Erin Jackson Takes Home The Gold!

Erin Johnson gets her gold.

The Golden Girl.

Team USA wins the Gold. Thank you Erin Johnson. The 29-year old won the women's 500m gold medal at the Winter Olympics in a time of 37.04 on Sunday.

Jackson almost missed competing in the 500m at the Olympics after she had slipped during qualifying trials, but her teammate and friend Brittany Bowe gave up her own spot to ensure the world No. 1 was able to go to Beijing -- and it paid off.

Jackson became the first U.S. woman to win a speed skating gold at the Olympics since Bonnie Blair. 

Blair won her gold medal in 1994.

Jackson becomes the first Black woman to win an individual medal in speed skating at the Olympics.

Brittany Bowe believed in Erin.

"I cried immediately, it was just a big release of emotion. A lot of shock, a lot of relief and a lot of happiness. I haven't fully processed everything quite yet, but it just feels amazing," said Jackson. 

"I had a little misstep on the backstretch, but I just tried to, I wouldn't say recover, because it wasn't anything big, but just tried to continue skating."

Jackson finished 0.08 seconds ahead of Japan's Niho Takagi in second and 0.17 seconds ahead of the Russian Olympic Committee's Angelina Golikova in third.

Bowe said that Jackson earned that opportunity to play at the Winter Olympics. She knew that Jackson will get the gold.

"Right after the rae, I knew that if it came down to me relinquishing my spot for her to be named on the team, I would do that because she deserved it. She has earned the right to compete in her marquee events at the Olympics, and it was an honor to give her that spot for the opportunity to race for gold for Team USA," said Bowe.