Jordan Stolz, 21, Wins Olympic Gold With Record Time

At just 21 years old, Jordan Stolz has become America's newest speed skating champion, crossing the finish line with a time that rewrote Olympic history.

Stolz claimed gold in the men's 1000m speed skating event at Milano Cortina 2026 on Wednesday, finishing in an Olympic record time of 1:06.28. He defeated Netherlands' Jenning de Boo by half a second, while China's Ning Zhongyan took bronze.

The victory marks a historic moment for American speed skating. Stolz became the first U.S. athlete to win gold in any speed skating event since Vancouver 2010, ending a 16-year drought for his country.

"You can win as many World Cups as you want, but to be able to win the 1000m here, it's once every four years, it's just indescribable," Stolz told reporters after his victory. The crowd at Milano Speed Skating Stadium roared as he realized he'd set an Olympic record.

Stolz's journey to this moment shows the power of dedication meeting natural talent. Just four years ago, he competed at Beijing 2022 as the youngest member of Team USA at age 17, with few predicting his meteoric rise.

His transformation came through obsessive attention to detail. Stolz spends countless hours perfecting his equipment, especially his blades, which are only a millimeter wide. "We are both perfectionists in that area," he said of working with his blade technician.

Why This Inspires

Stolz's perfectionism has paid off in ways that matter beyond medals. He entered Milano Cortina unbeaten in his last 14 World Cup 1000m races and holding the world record at 1:05.37.

His success has reignited American interest in speed skating after years of watching Dutch dominance. Silver medalist de Boo graciously acknowledged Stolz's superiority: "Right now Jordan's just the better man and he has been the entire season."

For bronze winner Ning, the moment was equally special as China's first-ever Olympic medal in this event. "I was really happy and really excited," he said. "I got the first Olympic medal and that's a surprise."

Stolz isn't done yet—he's competing in four events total at these Games, including the 500m, 1500m, and mass start. Legend Eric Heiden, who won five golds at Lake Placid 1980, watched from the crowd as Stolz began what could become his own legendary chapter.

The young skater who once trained with Olympic champion Shani Davis has now joined him in the history books, proving that American excellence on ice is alive and thriving.