Milano: American speed skating star Jordan Stolz made history at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics by winning gold in the men’s 1000m Speed Skating event and setting a new Olympic record.
The 21-year-old clocked 1:06.28, breaking the previous Olympic record and beginning his campaign for four gold medals in style. Stolz already holds the world record in the event (1:05.37).
“I mean, the feeling of crossing the line and seeing an Olympic record, and I was pretty sure that time was going to win, I was super happy about that,” Stolz said after the race.
Stolz had a slightly slow start but quickly found his rhythm and pulled ahead in the final laps. He was skating in the same pair as Netherlands’ Jenning de Boo, who finished second with a time of 1:06.78. China’s Ning Zhongyan took bronze in 1:07.34, winning his country’s first-ever Olympic medal in the men’s 1000m.
This victory is special for the United States as Stolz became the first American to win Olympic gold in speed skating since 2010. He is also the first non-Dutch skater to win this event at the Olympics since Vancouver 2010.
Stolz is aiming to win four gold medals in Milano. He will next compete in the 500m, 1500m and the mass start events.
“There’s a little less pressure now that I’ve got one gold medal,” he said.
For Jordan Stolz, the journey has started in perfect fashion — one gold medal secured, three more events to go.
Source: Milano Cortina 2026, ESPN, USA Today
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