US speedskater makes Winter Olympic team thanks to teammate's selfless act

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(MILWAUKEE) — Erin Jackson, a 20-year-old American long track speedskater from Ocala, Florida, narrowly had her dreams dashed of making her second Winter Olympic team.

At the U.S. long-track speedskating trials on Friday, Jackson — the current No. 1 in World Cup rankings for the women’s 500-meter — had a costly slip on the backstretch of the ice that placed her one spot shy of qualifying. However, Olympic bronze medal speedskater and longtime friend Brittany Bowe, who qualified for three events at this year’s games, selflessly relinquished her qualifying spot in the women’s 500-meter to Jackson.

“It’s hard to