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Beijing (AFP) – Erin Jackson became the first African-American Olympic champion in speed skating by winning the 500m on Sunday in Beijing, a title that had eluded the United States for 28 years.
Favorite of the event with four World Cup victories this season, the skater from Florida completed the 500m in 37 sec 4/100th, ahead of the Japanese Miho Takagi, 2nd at 8/100th, already silver medalist in 1500 m last week.
The Russian Angelina Golikova, reigning world champion, won the bronze 17/100th behind the American.
It is the sixth gold medal for the United States of fourteen awarded in the women’s 500m event since 1972.
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