(NEXSTAR) - Olympic champion Erin Jackson finished in fifth place in the 500-meter speed skating event in Milan. Jackson, who entered the competition as the defending gold medalist, missed the podium following a stumble in the second half of her race. Jackson made history during the 2022 Winter Olympics when she became the first Black woman to win a gold medal in an individual Winter Olympic event. For the 2026 Games, she was chosen by her peers to serve as the flag bearer for Team USA during the opening ceremony. Jackson recorded her fastest 100-meter opener ever during the race, but she lost momentum during the second half of the event. Jackson said the race got away from her after she experienced a stumble on the ice. Despite the fifth-place finish, she expressed a desire to return to competition. "It really sucks to miss out on the podium by a little bit, but you know I'll be back," Jackson said. Jackson has managed multiple physical challenges in the four years since the Beijing Games. Jackson had to fight through back and hamstring injuries leading up to her appearance in Milan. She said she plans to remain diligent about her physical health to prevent future issues. Her fellow athletes highlighted her leadership and personality within the group, describing her as someone who keeps the environment light and funny. "There's a reason we all voted for her as flag bearer," a teammate said, exiting the oval after competition. Jackson said she looks forward to eating Italian food now that her racing schedule in Milan is finished. As for her 2030 aspirations, Jackson said she has more skating left to do. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published