Jordan Stolz, 21, Breaks 2 Olympic Records in 3 Days

When Jordan Stolz crossed the finish line at the Milano-Cortina Olympics, he'd just broken his second Olympic record in three days at age 21.

The Team USA speed skater finished the 500-meter race in 33.77 seconds, more than half a second faster than the previous record. Days earlier, he'd won the 1,000-meter in record time too, becoming the first American man to sweep both distances since Eric Heiden in 1980.

What makes Stolz extraordinary isn't just his speed. It's something his competitors say they simply can't replicate.

"What sets him apart is just physiological," said Canada's Laurent Dubreuil, who won bronze in the 500. "The power, but the endurance at the same time."

Most speed skaters are either sprinters or endurance athletes, rarely both. Stolz explodes at the start like a sprinter, but unlike his competitors who fade around 300 meters, he still has energy left to finish strong.

That's why he's dominating the ultra-fast distances and remains the favorite to win gold in the 1,500-meter race this Thursday. Dubreuil joked that if he attempted the 1,500, he'd finish last and might not even medal against the women.

His secret lies mostly in his core and lower body strength. Like most winter athletes, Stolz skips upper body lifting entirely and hasn't benched in years. Extra upper body mass would only raise his center of gravity and slow him down in turns.

Why This Inspires

Stolz pairs his physical gifts with remarkable mental calm. Before his 500-meter race, there were five false starts in earlier heats, but the delays didn't shake him. He said he enjoyed the extra time to prepare.

"I'm super focused on my feeling on the ice," he explained. "It's more so just the feeling under my feet."

His popularity has exploded overseas, especially in the Netherlands where speed skating rivals basketball's popularity in America. Dutch fans nicknamed him "Straaljager," meaning "fighter jet," and he's landed major endorsements comparable to what Michael Jordan and LeBron James enjoy stateside.

Between races, Stolz focuses on staying relaxed, laying in bed and scrolling his phone while trying not to think about skating. His competitors know what they're up against. "He's the man to beat right now," said Netherlands skater Jenning De Boo, who took silver. "And I'm doing my absolute best to beat him."

Stolz sees his two golds as only a partial success if he doesn't win the 1,500 on Thursday, a distance where he's been dominant for years.

At 21, he's already rewriting speed skating history one record at a time.