Jordan Stolz Wins First Olympic Gold in 1000‑Meter Speed Skating

Jordan Stolz, a young American speed skater who grew up skating on a frozen pond in Wisconsin, has claimed his first Olympic gold medal in the men’s 1000‑meter race at the Milan Cortina Games. The victory came after a tense wait of over ten minutes, as officials checked that his time was indeed the fastest. He finished in 1 minute, 6. 28 seconds, breaking the Olympic record that had stood since 2002. The win was a dream come true for Stolz, who first fell in love with speed skating while watching the 2010 Winter Olympics on television. His family, especially his father Dirk who cleared the backyard pond for him and his sister, supported his journey from a young age. When Stolz finally lifted the gold medal, he told his dad that it felt like a long‑awaited moment had finally arrived.Stolz’s performance was marked by an explosive final lap. He trailed Dutch skater Jenning de Boo with 400 meters left, but surged ahead in the last stretch to overtake him and secure first place. De Boo, who finished only half a second behind, praised Stolz’s finishing speed and acknowledged that the race was over before he could respond. This medal is significant not only for Stolz but also for the United States, which has not seen a gold in this event since 2010. The win follows the legacy of former American champions like Shani Davis and Chad Hedrick, who also won medals in the 1000‑meter race. Stolz’s triumph adds to a series of record‑setting performances at the Milan Games, where all long‑track speed skating events have been won in their fastest Olympic times. Looking ahead, Stolz will compete in three more races: the 500‑meter on Saturday, the 1500‑meter on February 19, and a mass‑start event on February 21. While he is often compared to legendary skater Eric Heiden, Stolz focuses on mastering sprint distances before potentially expanding his range.