Two Olympians from Ocala took home silver and bronze medals in individual and team events at another World Cup event this weekend, continuing their streak of success on the ice this season.
Erin Jackson and Brittany Bowe both earned medals at the International Skating Union World Cup event held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which was held from Friday, January 31 to Sunday, February 2.
Jackson earned a silver medal in the women’s 500-meter race, finishing just 0.43 seconds behind winner Femke Kok of the Netherlands, and just 0.02 seconds ahead of third place Andzelika Wójcik.
An Olympic champion who has been battling injuries as of late, Jackson said she has been working through a back injury that impacted her performance at a World Cup event the prior week in Calgary.
“My back has seen better days,” said Jackson, according to a press release from the International Skating Union. Jackson said her back had seen “better days” and that she eased up at the beginning of the races in Milwaukee.
“I’m learning a different way of skating. It could be a bit more efficient,” said Jackson to ISU.
Bowe, who owns the world record for the women’s 1,000-meter race, finished second in the same event, with a time of 1:14:23.
In addition to the her individual showing, Bowe and two of her American teammates (Mia Manganello and Greta Myers) finished third in the women’s Team Pursuit event.
According to U.S. Speed Skating, the women set a national record during their event.
Bowe and Jackson, who are originally from Ocala, were part of the United States team that claimed bronze during the ISU World Cup event at the end of November. That event was held in Beijing, where the American teammates both won Olympic medals in 2022.
With the win, Bowe and Jackson continue their impressive World Cup seasons.
Bowe claimed gold in the 1000-meter women’s speed skating race at the ISU’s Four Continents Championships in Japan in November. Jackson claimed gold in the 500-meter race at the same event.
Through four World Cup events, Bowe is ranked second at the 1,000-meter distance with 178 cumulative points, and fourth at the 1,500-meter distance with 150 cumulative points. Jackson is ranked third at the 500-meter distance, with 302 cumulative points.
The ISU World Cup Speed Skating series is comprised of multiple events and races since. Ice skaters earn points at each competition and, at the end of the year, the skater who has accumulated the most points in a given distance is crowned the World Cup winner in that distance.
According to the ISU World Cup standings, there are still two qualifying 1000-meter races and four 500-meter races through the rest of the season.
To keep up and support either of these Ocala athletes on their journeys, follow Brittany Bowe and Erin Jackson online.