MILAN — Jordan Stolz, the talented U.S. speedskater, has just earned his first Olympic gold medal in the 1,000-meter race. He finished with an impressive time of 1:06.28, breaking the Olympic record by almost a second. Stolz outpaced Jenning de Boo from The Netherlands, who took silver, and Zhongyan Ning of China, who claimed bronze.
After crossing the finish line, Stolz reflected on the race. “At 600 meters, I saw Jenning ahead and started to worry,” he shared. “But I pushed myself, threw my arms down, and went all out to catch him.”
Stolz made waves at the last Winter Olympics in 2022 when he was just 17, finishing 13th in the 500-meter and 14th in the 1,000-meter. Since then, he’s become a dominant force in speedskating. This year, he swept titles in the 500, 1,000, and 1,500 meters at world championships. He was also recognized as the youngest male World Allround champion in 46 years.
In January 2024, Stolz set a world record in the 1,000-meter with a time of 1:05.37 in Salt Lake City. However, he believes his Olympic performance is even more significant since it was achieved at sea level.
Stolz is currently on a 14-race unbeaten streak in the 1,000-meter events. When asked about the gold medal, he said, “It feels even better than I expected. After years of training, it means a lot to achieve this.”
In Milan, he is also a top contender in the 500-meter, 1,500-meter, and possibly the men’s mass start events. If he wins at least three gold medals, he will join Eric Heiden as one of the only Americans to achieve this during a single Winter Games.
He expressed relief and excitement after securing his first gold, stating, “It’s great to get the first one out of the way. Now I know what to expect with the crowd and the pressure.”
With his remarkable performances and dedication, Stolz is not just making history for himself but also inspiring future generations of athletes in speedskating.
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