Erin Jackson - a 33-year old speed skater from Ocala, Florida - was truly the only correct selection from the women's team to be the US Flag bearer (with major apologies to Jessie Diggins!) Jackson qualified for her first Olympics in Pyeongchang in 2018, after having speed-skated on ice for only 4 months after transitioning from inline skating. She finished 24th in the 500 meters, but just skyrocketed from there. In 2021, she won her first 500-meter world cup event in Poland, breaking the track record not once, but twice. She qualified for Beijing in 2022, where she won gold, becoming the first black woman to win a Winter Olympic gold in a solo sport.
Heading into Milaon-Cortina, Jackson finished first in the U.S. Olympic trials in both the 500 meters, where she looks to defend her title, and the 1,000 meters.
Frank Del Duca is also from Florida, having been born in Broward County, Florida, but was raised and lives in Bethel, Maine, where he trains as the best U.S. Bobsled driver in both the two-man and four-man sleds. He led his sled to fourth-place finishes in both races in the 2025 World Cup, making him a solid contender to become the first US medalist in the events since 2014 in Sochi, where Steve Holcomb silvered in both disciplines, and the first to win gold since 1932 in Lake Placid (4-man; William Fiske) and 1936 in Garmish-Partenkirchen (2-man; Ivan Brown).
Congratulations Erin and Frank, and lead us well!!!
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