- Erin Jackson made history as the first Black woman to win an Olympic medal in
speed skating . - The 29-year-old American superstar was overcome with emotion as she stepped atop the podium.
American speed skater Erin Jackson made history at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
But she was so overcome with emotion after pulling off the feat, she messed up part of her special moment of celebration.
The 29-year-old Florida native finished first in the women's 500-meter speed skating event to become the first Black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport and the first American woman to medal in an individual speed skating event since 2002.
—NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 13, 2022
Jackson was, unsurprisingly, quite tearful as she climbed atop the podium to commemorate her historic victory. She "cried so much," she wrote on Twitter, "that I put on my medal backward."
"... then cried some more," she added.
The front of this year's gold medal feature the Olympic rings in the center. "XXIV Olympic Winter Games
The back showcases the logo for the Beijing games with "Beijing 2022" and a smaller set of rings below. The official name of these Olympics is written in Mandarin characters underneath that, and the entire design is surrounded by five thin circles adorned with golden dots.
Take a look:
Jackson's medal was clearly facing the wrong direction when she placed it around her neck for the playing of the national anthem. The slip-up added a quirky — but ultimately inconsequential — wrinkle to her inspiring, historic, and emotional moment:
Though Jackson finished her Olympic slate with her lighting-fast skate in the 500-meter event, she still has some unfinished business in Beijing. Before the games, she told Insider that she wants "to see Brittany Bowe" — the Team USA flag bearer who gave up her guaranteed spot in the race so that Jackson could qualify — "with a gold medal around her neck" when all is said and done.
"And I want her to see me with one, too," she added.
Jackson held up her end of the deal. Now, Bowe has one more chance to fulfill her side of the prophecy. The 2018 bronze medalist is set to skate in the 1000-meter event — arguably her strongest distance of the three she qualified for in Beijing — Thursday at 3 a.m. EST.