Jordan Stolz had envisioned this moment for most of his life, tracing back to when he was just five years old, practicing speedskating on a frozen pond in his backyard in Wisconsin after being captivated by the sport during the 2010 Winter Olympics, aspiring to one day achieve Olympic glory himself.
Despite a brief 10-minute delay, Stolz claimed his first speed skating gold medal on Wednesday, securing victory in the men’s 1,000 meters at the Milan-Cortina Games with a record-breaking time of one minute 6.28 seconds, a moment he described as surreal and fulfilling.
Stolz had to wait for another competitor to have a re-skate before officially celebrating his win, as he clinched the gold ahead of silver medalist Jenning de Boo from the Netherlands and bronze medalist Zhongyan Ning from China.
Canadian speed skater Laurent Dubreuil, aiming for his second consecutive Winter Games medal in the men’s 1,000 meters after winning silver in Beijing, finished in eighth place with a time of 1:08.21. His teammates David La Rue and Anders Johnson landed in the 18th and 22nd spots, respectively, among 27 competitors.
Stolz’s victory marks the first medal for the United States in the event since Shani Davis’ gold at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, with Stolz expressing disbelief and joy at his achievement.
Stolz, hailing from Kewaskum, Wis., who finished 14th in the 1,000m final in Beijing, holds the world record of 1:05.37 and has an impressive track record with two world titles, two World Cup titles, and the junior world record in the 1,000 meters.
Looking ahead, Stolz is set to compete in three more events in Italy, with the 500 meters scheduled for Saturday, followed by the 1,500 meters on Feb. 19 and the mass start on Feb. 21, expressing confidence and excitement for the upcoming competitions.
Despite a slight delay in the victory lap, Stolz’s dominant performance in the final lap of the 1,000 meters left his competitors in awe, with de Boo acknowledging Stolz’s exceptional last lap and unstoppable momentum towards the finish line.
Meanwhile, Dubreuil, a seasoned skater with a slow start to the season, displayed promising form in the 1,000 meters and is anticipated to shine in the upcoming 500 meters event, being the oldest skater in the field.
Bucsis, a former Canadian Olympic speed skater and CBC Sports analyst, commended Dubreuil’s technique and potential, emphasizing his strength in the 500 meters and optimistic outlook for his performance in the upcoming races.
La Rue, who made a remarkable comeback from a cycling accident in 2023 to qualify for his first Olympics, and Johnson, making his Olympic debut, showcased their determination and potential in the competition, with Bucsis praising Johnson’s transition from hockey to speed skating and his impressive performance in his first Olympics.