Speed skating at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics continues Monday, Feb. 9, with the women's 1000m, where world record holder Brittany Bowe and reigning 500m Olympic champion Erin Jackson will make their 2026 Olympic debuts. 

All speed skating events are available to watch on mobile, tablet and connected TV devices via the Peacock, NBC and NBC Sports apps.

Bowe, 37, plans to retire after her fourth Olympic appearance in February. Over her 16 years as a professional speed skater, Bowe has carved her name among the American speed skating greats, collecting 91 World Cup medals, 22 national titles, six world titles (3 in the 1000m), and four world records — three of which she earned in the 1000m. The last of those three has stood since 2019.

Bowe has never found her way to the top of the 1000m podium on the Olympic stage but skated to bronze in Beijing for her first individual Olympic medal. Four years earlier, she lifted the United States to bronze in the women's team pursuit

In her final World Cup season, Bowe placed in the top six of all of her World Cup races in both the 1000m and 1500m but missed out on the podium in all but one 1500m. At World Cup No. 5 in Inzell, Germany — her final races before the Olympics — she finished 4th in the 1000m, missing the podium by just 0.35 seconds.

Despite the perceived weight of her races in Milan, Bowe is focusing on the present moment, happy to end her career on her terms.

"I've been pretty at peace with myself throughout this whole year, this whole quad, knowing it will be my last Olympic Games," Bowe told the media after training at Milano Speed Skating Stadium Feb. 6. "Being able to reflect and take a step back while I'm still in it, and I'm still competitive, has been pretty cool. I'm really enjoying myself." 

Jackson, who grew up inline skating with Bowe in Ocala, Florida, will compete in her first Olympic 1000m after narrowly beating Bowe at the U.S. Olympic Trials in early January.

Jackson added the 1000m to her program after the Beijing Games, but a series of health issues encountered since 2023 forced her to pare down her training. In Inzell, she finished 5th behind Bowe. 

But in order to make the podium Monday, Bowe and Jackson will have to outpace the reigning Olympic gold and silver medalists, as well as world No. 1 Femke Kok.

Japan's Miho Takagi has dominated the middle distances for years, winning three-straight 1000m World Cup titles between 2023 and 2025. She owns four world championship medals (2 gold) and one Four Championships gold in the distance. She skated to gold at the Beijing Games in Olympic record time. 

The Netherlands' Kok made the podium in all five 1000m races on the World Cup this season, winning one and finishing with the overall World Cup title. Her specialty, however, is the 500m, where she owns the world record and a two-year-long unbeaten streak.

With three gold medals in the distance this season, Dutch teammate and Beijing silver medalist Jutta Leerdam is the world No. 2 in the 1000m. She is a two-time world champion and three-time European champion in the distance.

Making her Olympic speed skating debut is fellow Dutchwoman Suzanne Schulting. Originally a short track skater, Schulting made history in 2018 as the Netherlands' first Olympic short track gold medalist. Four years later, Schulting dominated the Beijing Olympics, becoming the first short track woman to earn four medals at a single Games. The 28 year old will compete in both disciplines at the Milan Cortina Olympics.