Erin Jackson, the 33-year-old American, will take on a 30-skater field that includes Jutta Leerdam, who this week won the gold in the women’s 1,000m.

Erin Jackson, the 33-year-old American, will take on a 30-skater field that includes Jutta Leerdam, who this week won the gold in the women’s 1,000m.

Erin Jackson, the U.S. speed skater, looks to defend her Olympic title in the women’s 500 meters facing the challenge from Dutch skater Jutta Leerdam.

The Dutch skater blew away the field in the women’s 500m in an Olympic-record time of 36.49sec to claim gold