"But all that control melted away when the speed skater glided on to Fox's Special Forces: World's Toughest Test reality TV series in fall 2023 for a taste of the grueling training that elite US troops endure. She was part of a motley cast that included former Dallas Cowboys star Dez Bryant, NBA clutch shooter Robert Horry and skier Bode Miller, a fellow Winter Olympic champion. But Jackson was less concerned with outshining her athletic peers than with confronting her own fears."
"To test her anxiety around swimming, Jackson was strapped into a mock helicopter, submerged in icy water and told to hold her breath for at least 15 seconds before freeing herself, grabbing a lifejacket, and paddling to safety. Even though she panicked underwater and bailed on the drill after just five seconds, Jackson went on to complete the overall course, finishing as one of three contestants and the only world-class athlete to earn a passing grade."
"Mind you, this is a woman who was already standing on a strong foundation the wheeled skating prodigy from Ocala, Florida, who transitioned to ice in adulthood and captured the 500m at the 2022 Beijing Games, making history as the first Black woman to win a Winter Olympic gold in an individual sport. As one of this year's US flag bearers, Jackson entered the Milano Cortina Games with high expectations."
Erin Jackson skates with precise balance and thin margins for error. She joined Fox's Special Forces in fall 2023 to confront fears and endure military-style training. For a swimming test she was strapped into a mock helicopter, submerged in icy water, and told to hold her breath for 15 seconds; she panicked after five seconds but completed the overall course as one of three contestants and the only world-class athlete to pass. Jackson transitioned from wheeled skating in Ocala, Florida, to ice and won the 500m at Beijing 2022, becoming the first Black woman to win an individual Winter Olympic gold. After a 1000m stumble, she returns to defend her 500m title at Milano Cortina.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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