Imagine shattering an Olympic record on your way to potentially making history. That's exactly what U.S. speedskating phenom Jordan Stolz is aiming for, and he's already off to a blistering start. But here's where it gets controversial: can anyone stop him from dominating the competition and claiming four gold medals?
Stolz kicked off his Olympic journey in Milan by securing his first gold medal in the 1,000-meter event, clocking an astonishing 1:06.28—nearly a second faster than the previous Olympic record. He edged out Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands and Zhongyan Ning of China, who took silver and bronze, respectively. In a post-race interview with NBC News, Stolz admitted feeling the heat: “Jenning was ahead of me at 600 meters, and I was worried he might pull off the win. But I dug deep, gave it everything I had, and managed to catch him.”
At just 19, Stolz is already a force to be reckoned with. And this is the part most people miss: his meteoric rise began at the 2022 Winter Olympics, where he competed as the youngest male athlete on the U.S. team at only 17, finishing 13th in the 500-meter and 14th in the 1,000-meter. Since then, he’s been unstoppable, sweeping the 500-meter, 1,000-meter, and 1,500-meter events at the 2023 and 2024 World Championships. He also became the youngest male World Allround champion in 46 years and set a world record in the 1,000-meter with a time of 1:05.37 in Salt Lake City in January 2024. Stolz humbly noted that Wednesday’s Olympic record felt even more significant because it wasn’t achieved at altitude.
Adding to his dominance, Stolz is on a 14-race unbeaten streak in the 1,000-meter at the World Cup level. When asked about his Olympic gold, he shared, “It feels a bit better than I thought it would. I’ve trained relentlessly for four years, and knowing you only get one shot at this makes it incredibly special. The pressure of expectations is one thing, but actually delivering? That feeling is surreal.”
In Milan, the Wisconsin native is a strong contender for gold in the 500-meter, 1,000-meter, and 1,500-meter events, and he may also compete in the men’s mass start. If he secures at least three gold medals, he’ll join Eric Heiden as the only American athlete—male or female—to achieve this feat in a single Winter Games. Stolz expressed relief after his first gold, saying, “It’s a huge weight off my shoulders. Experiencing the crowd, pressure, and buildup firsthand has prepared me for what’s next.”
But here’s the question that divides fans: Is Stolz’s dominance a testament to his unparalleled talent, or does it highlight a lack of competitive depth in speedskating? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. One thing’s for sure: Jordan Stolz is rewriting the record books, one lap at a time.
