Getting into the 2026 Winter Olympics, Jordan Stolz was one of many members of Staff USA anticipated to turn out to be a family identify by the tip of the video games.
He delivered in his first occasion.
For the previous few seasons, Jordan Stolz has dominated the pace skating sprinting occasions. He entered the 2026 Winter Olympics having received each single 1,000- and 1,500-meter race through the World Cup season, and 5 of the 9 500-meter races. This comes within the wake of Stolz sweeping the dash distances on the World Championships in each 2023 and 2024, and he received the full-season title in any respect three distances final season.
Up first for Stolz was the 1,000-meter race in Milano Cortina on Wednesday, the primary of his 4 occasions, the place he was recognized as the favourite in every. He additionally entered Wednesday’s race as the present world-record holder at that distance, which he set again in January of 2024.
The American needed to wait, as he was slotted within the 14th of 15 pairs within the occasion. Hometown hero Daniele di Stefano set the early time to beat within the fifth pairing with a 1:08.17, however then got here the Dutch pair of Kjeld Nuis within the tenth pair, and Joep Wennemars within the eleventh pairing. Nuis jumped into the highest spot with a 1:07.65, solely to see his countryman nip that effort with a 1:07.58 within the very subsequent pairing.
Then got here Ning Zhongyan of China within the twelfth pairing, one of many flag bearers for his nation on the 2026 Video games and a 1,500-meter specialist. However he delivered a really sturdy 1:07.34, placing himself in place for a medal as he jumped forward of the Dutch pair to high the timing sheet.
Lastly, the stage was Stolz’s.
And he delivered, in a pairing towards his largest rival Jenning de Boo from the Netherlands.
The 21-year-old jumped out to a strong begin, and surged forward out of the primary nook. However after the Dutch skater took the lead from him into the ultimate lap, Stolz responded with an epic ultimate push, rocketing to the road with a time of 1:06.28, a brand new Olympic document by nearly a full second. It additionally positioned him a half-second forward of De Boo.
Stolz needed to wait out the ultimate pairing — Marten Liiv from Estonia and Poland’s Damian Zurek — to clinch his gold. Zurek had already defeated Stolz within the 500-meter a couple of weeks in the past, however Zurek couldn’t catch his rival, crossing the road with a 1:07.41, solely good for fourth.
Stolz was off to a golden begin, with the most important margin of victory within the 1,000-meter because the 1984 Winter Olympics.
However it was not but official.
Stolz wanted to attend out a re-skate from Wennemars. The Dutch skater was impeded throughout his run on a lane change with China’s Lian Ziwen, and was afforded a possibility to go once more. Replays confirmed a tense alternate between the 2 skaters after their pairing. Following a sing-along to “Name Me Perhaps” set in movement by the venue’s DJ, Wennemars completed his warm-up and took to the beginning line for his re-skate.
With each set of eyes on him and him alone, Wennemars attacked the ice on his reskate. The 23-year-old gave it all the pieces he had, however couldn’t enhance upon his earlier time, and completed off the rostrum.
And Stolz’s gold was official. Right here’s the medal stand:
