U.S. speedskating star Jordan Stolz wins gold in 1,000 meters, setting Olympic record

Jordan Stolz has imagined this moment most of his life, since he was 5 years old, learning to skate on a frozen pond in his Wisconsin backyard after falling in love with speed skating during the 2010 Winter Olympics — and hoping to one day stand on the podium himself.

So, what was the small hassle of waiting ten minutes to be sure that this first gold medal in speed skating would be his Wednesday?

Stolz had to wait to celebrate until another competitor had a chance to skate again, then was quickly able to smile as he leaned forward to receive his gold medal for winning the men’s 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Games in Olympic record time.

Stolz now hopes to continue and add to his trophy collection by competing in three more events in Milan.

Skating in the penultimate pair at the Milan Speed ​​Skating Stadium, a temporary facility built for these Olympics that has produced fast times so far, Stolz finished in 1 minute 6.28 seconds.

The 21-year-old did not threaten his world record of 1:05.37, but bettered the Olympic standard of 1:07.18 which had stood since 2002 – before Stolz was born. The four long track speed skating races held in Milan were won with the fastest times ever at the Olympics.

Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands was half a second slower than Stolz and took the silver medal. No one else came within a second of Stolz’s time. Zhongyan Ning of China won the bronze medal.

Stolz’s medal was his first at this level: at 17 at the 2022 Beijing Games, Stolz placed 14th in the 1,000 and 13th in the 500.

It was also the first medal of any kind in the men’s 1000m for the United States since the Vancouver Games in 2010. That’s when Shani Davis – a mentor of Stolz’s – won his second consecutive gold medal in that event and Chad Hedrick took home the bronze medal. The Dutch have won the 1000m at each of the last three Winter Games.

With Eric Heiden, the only speed skater to win five gold medals at a single Olympics, sitting next to rapper Snoop Dogg in the stands, Stolz was ahead of de Boo by the time a full lap was completed. Then de Boo came forward. But Stolz took the lead in the final corner and crossed first with his hands on his knees.

Soon he celebrated with a discreet movement of his right hand.

A full victory lap flying an American flag had to be put on hold for a while, however: First, the final round of the day had to take place. And then there was a 10-minute delay before Joep Wennermars of the Netherlands had a chance to skate again because he was bumped during his initial heat.

But Wennermars didn’t come close to beating Stolz, who entered the day as the heavy favorite – and came out on top in the clutch.

Stolz not only holds the 1,000m world record which he set in January 2024, but he is also a two-time world champion at this distance. Additionally, he achieved a 5-for-5 record on the World Cup circuit this season in this event, confirming his status as the man to beat at the Winter Games.

In a surprising scene at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Milwaukee in January, Stolz fell to the ice a few strides before the 1,000, then climbed back up and finished with the third-fastest time.

No such problem when it mattered most on Wednesday.

This race was the first of four events Stolz has scheduled in Milan – and it’s not unrealistic to think he could leave Italy with four gold medals, given his track record and dominance of late. After two days off, he is also entered in the 500 meters on Saturday, the 1,500 m on February 19 and the mass start on February 21, the last day of speed skating at these Olympics.

Stolz’s name is often mentioned alongside that of Heiden, the superstar who is the only speed skater to win five long track gold medals at a single Winter Games. Heiden won five individual events at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics: the 500, 1,000, 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000.

Stolz says he’s flattered to hear such comparisons, but he’s also quick to note that what Heiden accomplished was remarkably different, given his participation in all five distances. Stolz may add longer distances to his repertoire later; For now, he is the best there is in sprints.

The Dutch have won the 1000m at each of the last three Winter Games.

Stolz, 21, started skating on the pond behind his family’s home after watching Apolo Ohno and Shani Davis at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, according to the U.S. team.

Stolz also skates professionally for the Dutch team Albert Heijn Zaanlander. Speed ​​skating is a well-followed sport in the Netherlands, and Stolz said he hopes to bring more awareness to speed skating in the United States.

“It obviously won’t be as much as in the Netherlands. I would have liked it to be the case, but maybe one day it will be the case, but at least I can do a little bit,” he added. Stolz told CBS News before the Olympic Games.