Who is Brittany Bowe? Hero US skater gives up Olympic slot to Erin Jackson after she slipped
Speed Skater Brittany Bowe on January 9, 2022, relinquished her position in the 500 meters event for the 2022 Winter Olympics, but not because of mental health or injury. Rather, Bowe opted out of the event so that teammate Erin Jackson could compete, an act that social media is celebrating. It means Jackson is still on track to chase her goal of Olympic glory, despite finishing third in the US Speed Skating Trials in Milwaukee.
Team USA's athletes made waves at the 2020 summer games in Tokyo for a variety of reasons, including opting out. Simone Biles made waves for opting out of the gymnastics finals, citing mental health concerns. She ultimately returned in the balance beam final, to obtain a bronze medal. NBA star Kevin Love also pulled out of the games, one week ahead of the Olympics.
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Compared to these, Bowe's heartwarming decision will leave you feeling inspired, as it comes for a very good reason. But before we tell you about it, here's what you need to know about Bowe herself.
Who is Brittany Bowe?
The 33-year-old is an accomplished athlete, having played professional basketball, as well as being a former inline skater before turning to speed skating. Born and raised in Florida, Bowe spent her childhood pursuing soccer as well, before eventually giving it up for basketball. While studying at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Bowe played for the women's basketball team and then graduated in 2010.
In 1996, at the age of 8 Bowe also tried her hand at inline skating, which she went on to become a prolific athlete in. In 2010, she then decided to switch to speed skating, quickly establishing herself as a dominant athlete with a number of medials. Her first appearance at the Olympics was in the 2014 games in Sochi, where she failed to win any medals, a record she corrected by winning the bronze in the 2018 games Pyeongchang.
As with all athletes, Bowe too has faced several challenges. Not only is she one of the very few gay athletes at the Olympic level, but Bowe also suffered from a medical condition that nearly ended her career. In 2017, Bowe suffered a concussion in training which led to the discovery she had Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia (POTS), a condition that means the body is unable to control blood pressure or heart rate after she stood up.
However, Bowe managed to overcome the challenges and went on to taste Olympic glory in 2018. She's now set her eyes on winning a gold at Beijing, participating in the 1000m and 1500m events after giving up her slot in the 500m events for Jackson.
Why did Bowe surrender her slot to Erin Jackson?
During the trials in Milwaukee, Jackson, the world number 1 in 500m speed skating slipped. The costly mistake meant she ended up third, behind Bowe who finished first. It also meant Jackson would miss out on an Olympic slot, had it not been for Bowe's generosity. "After that unfortunate slip I knew in my mind before that night was even over that if it had to come down to a decision of mine, she could have my place," Bowe told NBC Sports. She went on to defend her decision saying, "She’s earned it and she deserves it."
Jackson took to social media to celebrate the news, tweeting, "Definitely not the way I imagined qualifying for my second Olympic team... but I guess I had to one-up my story from the 2018 Trials. I'm incredibly grateful and humbled by the kindness of @BrittanyBowe in helping me to secure a chance at reaching my goals in #Beijing2022."
1/4 Definitely not the way I imagined qualifying for my second Olympic team... but I guess I had to one-up my story from the 2018 Trials. I'm incredibly grateful and humbled by the kindness of @BrittanyBowe in helping me to secure a chance at reaching my goals in #Beijing2022.
— Erin Jackson (@ErinJackson480) January 10, 2022
Social media is now filled with praise for Bowe, with many lauding her sportsmanship in granting Jackson a chance to compete. She will now participate in the 500m event along with Kimi Goetz, who finished second in the trials.