Stolz wins 1000m Olympic gold in record 1:06.28, largest margin since ’84

Jordan Stolz just made history at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The 21-year-old Wisconsin speed skater obliterated the competition Wednesday night, winning the men’s 1000m in a stunning 1:06.28 – an Olympic record. The margin of victory? The largest since 1984.

American Speed Skating Phenom Delivers in First Race

In his first race at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium, the Kewaskum native showcased why he’s been called a generational talent. Stolz trailed Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands through the middle of the race. Then came the final lap. Spectacular doesn’t describe his closing stretch. He zoomed past his rival around the final corner and crossed the line with explosive power, crossing his arms on his knees before pumping his right fist.

According to NBC Olympics, Stolz didn’t threaten his world record of 1:05.37 but still smashed the previous Olympic standard. No one else came within a full second of his dominant performance. Ning Zhongyan of China claimed bronze at 1:07.34, more than a second behind the winner.

From Frozen Pond Dreams to Olympic Gold

Stolz has been dreaming of this moment since he was five years old, learning to skate on a frozen pond in Wisconsin after falling in love with speed skating while watching the 2010 Winter Olympics on television. His father Dirk plowed snow on their backyard pond so young Jordan and his older sister Hannah could skate. When they reunited after Wednesday’s race, his father told him a simple truth: He finally got it.

This gold medal marks a watershed moment. At the 2022 Beijing Games as a 17-year-old, Stolz finished 14th in the 1000m and 13th in the 500m. Fast forward just four years, and he’s the Olympic champion. He brought the first men’s 1000m medal for the United States since Vancouver 2010, when Shani Davis won gold.

Record-Breaking Performance Across the Board

Event Details

Athlete	Country	Time	Medal
Jordan Stolz	United States	1:06.28	Gold
Jenning de Boo	Netherlands	1:06.78	Silver
Ning Zhongyan	China	1:07.34	Bronze

Notably, all four long track speed skating races in Milan have been won in the fastest times ever recorded at an Olympics. The facility appears engineered for speed. Stolz’s coach Bob Corby was matter-of-fact about what he witnessed: His last lap was just incredible.

“I didn’t think anybody was going to beat that time. It was just a feeling like, ‘You finally did it.’ It almost doesn’t seem real, right?”

— Jordan Stolz, Olympic Gold Medalist

The Road to Four Gold Medals Begins

Now comes the ambitious part. Stolz entered Milan as the heavy favorite for this event. He holds the world record and is a two-time world champion at the distance. He also went 5-for-5 on the World Cup circuit this season in the 1000m. But one medal is only the beginning of his Olympic story.

He has three more events scheduled. The 500m comes Saturday. Then the 1500m on February 19, and the mass start on February 21. His name is already mentioned alongside Eric Heiden, the only speed skater to win five gold medals at a single Winter Games back in 1980. Stolz is wise enough to temper expectations. As he said, adding more medals would be super nice, but just having one means a lot right now.

What Could This Historic Victory Mean for Speed Skating in America?

For decades, the Netherlands dominated the men’s 1000m at the Olympics, winning three consecutive golds heading into Milan. Stolz just changed that narrative in spectacular fashion. The American speed skating legend Shani Davis, once Stolz’s mentor and coach, watched another American claim gold in this marquee event. The speed skating landscape in the United States just shifted significantly, with a young champion poised to define the sport for years to come.

Sources

• Olympics.com – Official Olympic coverage of Jordan Stolz winning the men’s 1000m speed skating gold medal
• NBC Olympics – Complete results and analysis of Stolz’s Olympic record performance in Milan
• USA Today – Feature on Stolz setting the 1000m Olympic record in his debut at the Winter Games