American speedskaters Erin Jackson, Jordan Stolz reflect on Winter Olympics, patriotism

American Olympian Erin Jackson talks to Fox News Digital about her Olympic experience at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.

Speedskaters Erin Jackson and Jordan Stolz proudly represented Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics last month.

Jackson, who was the first Black woman to win speedskating gold when she did it at the 2022 Olympics, entered the Olympics as one of half the flag bearers during the opening ceremonies. Though she didn’t come away with a medal at these Games, she held her head high throughout each speedskating event.

Stolz walked away from the Milan Cortina Games with three medals. He won golds in the 500- and 1,000-meter races and a silver in the 1,500-meter race.

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 Erin Jackson of the United States hoists an American flag after winning the gold medal in the speedskating women's 500-meter race at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, file)

Both Team USA stars partnered with Hershey’s for its happiness as "the real gold" campaign before the Games began. Jackson and Stolz both received Hershey’s chocolate gold medals and were a part of commercials during the Olympics.

Jackson said in one of the campaign spots that "happiness is definitely more important than winning." She explained to Fox News Digital how she kept that in mind while trying to keep a competitive edge against the best speedskaters in the world.

"I think one thing that I’ve always kept in mind and kept in perspective is that winning isn’t everything and losing isn’t the end of the world," Jackson said. "I think I have more of a laid-back attitude around what I do because, I don’t know, maybe because I didn’t grow up as an athlete. I grew up as more of