When Erin Jackson steps into the rink, she’s both fierce and joyful, all but melting the ice with her sunny disposition. The professional speed skater and Olympic gold medalist is magic to watch in action — but it’s her ability to shift the narrative around female athletes and perfection that’s worth paying attention to.
Jackson might not be who you’d expect to see in the elite speed skating space, even in 2025. Born in Ocala, Florida, Jackson tried her hand at figure skating when she was young but quickly pivoted after discovering her love of speed. She went on to compete in roller derby, a sport where only 11% of participants identified as people of color, before setting her sights on an Olympic medal.
Competing at this level is only half the battle for many female athletes, who are held to an array of unreasonable standards. There are respectability politics; Black women athletes, in particular, are expected to be gracious and restrained even when the situation calls for big reaction. There’s also their continuous fight for fair compensation.
And then there are the unreasonable physical expectations female athletes face. They’re either not strong enough or so strong that they’re called “masculine” (as a flaw, of course). They’re expected to be attractive to everyone, with a beaming white smile, toned and tight muscles, and skin so smooth that it’s poreless in HD.
