US speed skater Erin Jackson won the women's 500m gold medal at the Winter Olympics in a time of 37.04 on Sunday.
Jackson nearly missed competing in the 500 meters at the Olympics after she slipped during the qualifying trials, but her teammate and friend Brittany Bowe gave up her spot to make sure the world No. 1 was able to go to Beijing - And it was paid.
Jackson, 29, is the first American woman to win speed skating gold at the Olympics since Bonnie Blair did so in 1994, as well as the first black woman to win an individual medal in speed skating at the Olympics. Team USA.
She was 0.08 seconds ahead of Miho Takagi of Japan in second and Angelina Golikova of the Russian Olympic Committee in third by 0.17 seconds.
"I cried immediately, it was just a huge release of emotion. A lot of shock, a lot of relief and a lot of joy. I haven't fully processed everything yet, but it feels amazing," Jackson told reporters.
She said: "I did a little misstep on the backstretch, but I just tried, I wouldn't say okay, because it wasn't something big, but just tried to keep skating."
At the US Trials last month, Bowe had already qualified for the 1,000m and 1,500m in Beijing when she left her place on the team to Jackson for the 500m.
"Right after the race, I knew that if I had to give up my spot to have him on the team, I would do it because he deserved it," Bowe told reporters earlier this week.
"She earned the right to compete in her marquee event at the Olympics, and it was an honor to give her that spot for the opportunity to race gold for Team USA."
Meanwhile, Jackson talked about the "flood of emotions" when Bowe left his place, adding that "you don't really know what you feel."
After the race, she said the pair hugged: "He hugged me, said he was really proud of me, and I just said a lot of thanks," Jackson said.
Bowe also ceased competing in the 500 meters after other countries returned qualifying slots for the Games, and some were reallocated to the US. She ranked 16th in a time of 38.04.