Erin Jackson of the United States confirmed her favourite status with the 500-metre speed skating gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Winter Games to complete a remarkable fairytale journey in the sport. Jackson, 29, only switched to the ice from inline skating five years ago but triumphed in 37.04 seconds around the National Speed Skating Oval with Japan’s Miho Takagi taking silver 8 hundredths back, as she did in the 1,500m. Angelina Golikova of the Russian Olympic Committee took bronze a further 9 hundredths behind having narrowly missed the lead held by Takagi since pair four in the 13th duo…