Jordan Stolz Claims First Olympic Gold with Record-Breaking Speedskating Performance

In an exciting moment for U.S. speedskating, Jordan Stolz secured his first Olympic medal by winning gold in the 1,000-meter event on Wednesday. His impressive time of 1:06.28 set a new Olympic record, eclipsing the previous best by nearly a second.

“The last lap — Jenning was ahead of me at 600 meters and I was kind of worried that maybe he was going to be able to win,” Stolz told NBC News. “And then I thought I really can’t let that happen so I threw two arms down and went as hard as I possibly could and was able to catch him.”

Stolz outpaced his competitors Jenning de Boo from the Netherlands and Zhongyan Ning from China, who finished with silver and bronze, respectively. Stolz, recognized globally as an elite skater, made his Olympic debut in 2022 at just 17 years old, making him the youngest male athlete on the U.S. team. Despite finishing 13th and 14th in the 500-meter and 1,000-meter events, he has since excelled on the world stage.

Stolz’s achievements include sweeping the 500-meter, 1,000-meter, and 1,500-meter events at the World Championships in both 2023 and 2024, earning him the title of the youngest male World Allround champion in nearly half a century. In January 2024, he set a world record in the 1,000-meter with a time of 1:05.37 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Stolz considers his recent Olympic success more significant, as he accomplished it outside of high-altitude conditions.

Continuing his dominance in speedskating, Stolz is currently enjoying an unbeaten streak spanning 14 races in the 1,000-meter at the World Cup-level. Reflecting on his Olympic triumph, Stolz expressed a deeper satisfaction than anticipated. “It feels a bit better than I thought it would,” said Stolz. “I’ve been training a lot, the last four years since the last Olympics, and you only get one shot to win gold in the 1,000, so I was able to do that … It’s one thing having people expecting you to win. Actually achieving that? The feeling is pretty unreal.”

Stolz’s journey in Milan continues, where he is expected to be a major contender for gold in the 500-meter, 1,000-meter, and 1,500-meter events. Additionally, there is a possibility of him participating in the men’s mass start. Achieving three gold medals would place him alongside Eric Heiden as the only American to secure that many in a single Winter Games. Stolz expressed his relief at having his first gold under his belt, saying, “It’s really nice to get the first one out. Getting an experience of what it’s like with the crowd and the pressure and the buildup. Now you know what to expect.”