U.S. speedskating sensation Jordan Stolz is on a mission to claim four gold medals, starting with an Olympic record in the 1,000-meter event.
MILAN — Jordan Stolz, the U.S. speedskating star, claimed his first Olympic medal on Wednesday, securing the gold and setting a new Olympic record in the 1,000-meter race. His time of 1:06.28 was a significant improvement, shaving nearly a second off the previous best.
Stolz outperformed Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands and Zhongyan Ning of China, who took the silver and bronze medals, respectively.
In an interview with NBC News, Stolz shared his thoughts on the final lap, expressing concern about Jenning's lead at the 600-meter mark. He then described his determination to push through, throwing down his arms and giving it his all to catch up and secure the win.
Widely regarded as the world's best skater, Stolz made his Olympic debut at just 17 years old in the 2022 Winter Olympics, becoming the youngest male athlete on the team. He finished 13th in the 500-meter and 14th in the 1,000-meter events. Since then, he's dominated the competition, sweeping the 500-meter, 1,000-meter, and 1,500-meter events at the 2023 and 2024 world championships.
Stolz was named the youngest male World Allround champion in 46 years and set a new world record in the 1,000-meter event with a time of 1:05.37 in Salt Lake City, Utah, in January 2024. However, he noted that Wednesday's achievement was even more impressive as it wasn't at high altitude.
Stolz is currently on a 14-race unbeaten streak in the 1,000-meter event at the World Cup level.
When asked about his feelings after winning the Olympic gold medal, Stolz expressed his satisfaction, stating that it felt even better than he anticipated. He emphasized the significance of the achievement, highlighting his extensive training over the past four years since the last Olympics. Stolz also noted the pressure of expectations, describing the feeling as surreal.
In Milan, Stolz is expected to compete for gold in the 500-meter, 1,000-meter, and 1,500-meter events and may also participate in the men's mass start. If he wins at least three gold medals, he will join Eric Heiden as the only American, male or female, to achieve that many gold medals at a single Winter Games.
Stolz expressed his joy in securing the first gold medal, mentioning the valuable experience of dealing with the crowd, pressure, and buildup. He believes this will prepare him for future competitions.
