Gallery: Ocala Winter Olympians Honored At Howard Academy

Joey Mantia, Erin Jackson and Brittany Bowe, left to right, who all won are all from Ocala and won medals in speed skating in the Winter Olympics, celebrate as they are honored at the Howard Academy Community Center in Ocala, Fla. on Friday, March 25, 2022. Jackson was inducted into the Black History Museum of Marion County during the reception. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2022.

The Howard Academy Community Center was jam packed Friday evening, March 25^th, with people showing love and appreciation for Ocala’s three Olympic speed skating champions, Erin Jackson, Brittany Bowe and Joey Mantia.

During the event, which included numerous presentations, Jackson was inducted into the Black History Museum of Marion County, which is located at the community center complex.

Jackson, who recently made history as the first Black American woman to win a Winter Olympic gold medal in an individual event, is an Ocala native. She attended Howard Middle School and graduated from Forest High School. She graduated with a degree in materials science and engineering from the University of Florida.

In 2018, she became the first Black American woman to secure a spot on a U.S. Olympic long track speed skating team.

Jackson, Bowe and Mantia have been honored in numerous appearances around Ocala in recent days.