Stolz Balances Olympic Golds Amid Competition Pressures
U.S. speedskater Jordan Stolz won gold medals in the men's 1,000-meter and 500-meter events at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The 21-year-old from Wisconsin described the challenge of celebrating his first victory while preparing for subsequent races. Stolz captured the 1,000m gold on Feb. 11 before securing the 500m title three days later on Feb. 14.
Growing up in Wisconsin, Stolz found ample frozen surfaces for skating, despite the region's reputation as a hockey hotbed. As a child, he drew inspiration from watching Apolo Anton Ohno. Stolz emphasized his focus after the 1,000m win: "I wanted to celebrate, but actually I was really focused on the 500, because it's only one day off and then the 500 final."
Pressure mounted for the 500m, with Stolz stating, "I kind of felt like I really needed to win that 500. So I wasn't really messing around at all." He noted difficulties sustaining focus through events like the 1,500m, where delays between starts increased risks. Off the ice, Stolz maintains strict nutrition for himself and his cat Mitzi, feeding her Nulo to match his regimen: "I'm so careful about what I put into my body ... I don't want her to be eating poor nutrition."
Stolz plans to train through the next Olympics, including World Championships and World Cups. He may explore track cycling this summer, with a potential shift toward the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games.
