Gold Medal
“RUN IN SUCH A WAY THAT YOU MAY WIN” (1 Cor. 9:24b).
The Olympic Games always produce feel-good stories, don’t they, whether Summer or Winter‽ The Winter Olympics of 2022 have at least one such, the success of Erin Jackson (and the sacrifice of her friend).
She and fellow speed skater and friend, Brittany Bowe, grew up in Ocala, FL. They originally competed in in-line skating before transitioning to speed skating. The 2014 Olympic Games were Brittany’s first. Erin’s first were the 2018 games. She qualified for them after only 4 months on the ice.
Erin advanced markedly in her sport and entered the 2022 U.S Olympic Trials as the best in the world at the women’s 500m speed skate. But she almost didn’t make it. During her qualifying race, she caught a bad edge and bobbled. Though she remained on her skates, the bobble cost her time. She finished 3rd behind Brittany and another U.S. skater, Kimi Goetz. The U.S. had two guaranteed spots on the team. Erin wasn’t one of the two. Her Olympic hopes were dashed.
That’s when her friend, Brittany, gave up her spot so Erin could go. What a sacrifice! She knew that America’s best chance for a medal rested on Erin. In January Brittany said, “It’s my honor to give her that opportunity. She’s earned it and she deserves it.” (Later, the U.S. was granted a third spot, so Brittany got to race after all.)
“When she gave up her spot, she didn’t know we were getting a third one, so she made a really big sacrifice for me and I will be grateful to her forever,” Erin said.
Brittany was right. Erin raced flawlessly, outdistancing her Japanese rival, who finished 2nd overall, on the next to last pairing. She won the Gold! Brittany finished 16th and the Kimi, 18th.
The sacrifice of a friend turned heartache and tears into thrills and gratitude. Hard work turned a young woman from Florida into an Olympic champion. Two women deserve our admiration.
It’s like Paul indicated, we are each in a race; run in such a way that you may win yours.
The prize is worth the effort‽
Rod MacArthur
206.949.0325
rod_macarthur@comcast.net