An Olympic gold-medal favorite sticks to her strict pre-event routines because 'you can't cram for the exam'

• Team USA speed skater Erin Jackson is a favorite to win gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
• The 29-year-old is always committed to her strict training routines, even years ahead of the games.

Erin Jackson isn't leaving anything up to chance.

The American superstar speed skater is a favorite to take home a gold medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. She's envisioned that moment of triumph on the world stage for a long, long time — almost as long as she's been training to make it happen.

"As an athlete, you can't cram for the exam," Jackson told Insider. "You have to prepare properly every day."

And the 29-year-old has done precisely that for years on end. She's always committed to her strict training routines — "not just when the Olympics are near," she says — and tries to create as much consistency for herself as possible heading into a competition.

That includes the upcoming women's speed skating 500-meter event in Beijing, which is undoubtedly the most anticipated — and most pressure-filled — race of Jackson's career to date.

"The plan at the Olympics is to treat it like every other race as much as I can," Jackson explained. "Eat the same, warm up the same, listen to the same music… keep the same routine."

A crucial part of that routine, she says, is recovery. Long track speed skating takes a significant toll on the leg muscles — particularly the quads, hamstrings, and glutes.

Any relief she can get from the soreness that comes after training sessions is a bonus. And, somewhat surprisingly, tart cherries — and Cheribundi's cherry juice and cherry concentrate — have become Jackson's post-workout go-tos.

"I love that I can easily throw Cheribundi juices or concentrates in my bag when I am on the go," she said. "We keep Cheribundi stocked in the weight room's 'fueling station' so we can grab it whenever we are training."

"I drink Cheribundi after training sessions either straight from the bottle or mixed into my post-workout smoothies," Jackson added.

As with every other aspect of her routine, the winner of four of the past eight 500-meter World Cups is staying the course in Beijing. She told Insider that she made it a point to have Cheribundi readily available throughout her time competing half a world away.

"Cheribundi is part of my regular routine," Jackson said. "So I'm going to keep it that way."

Jackson is scheduled to compete in the women's speed skating 500-meter event on Saturday night Beijing time. Fans looking to watch stateside can tune in to USA Network or Peacock at 9:45 a.m. ET to watch Jackson compete for her first Olympic medal.