Jordan Stolz Poised to Become Best American Speedskater Since Eric Heiden

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Jordan Stolz, a 21-year-old American speedskater, is being hailed as the best in the country since the legendary Eric Heiden, who won an unprecedented five gold medals at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. Stolz has dominated the World Cup circuit in recent years, winning 16 of 24 races he has entered, and is a legitimate threat to return home from Milan with multiple gold medals. Heiden, now 67 and an orthopedic surgeon, sees a lot of himself in Stolz, from their similar small-town Wisconsin upbringings to their meteoric rises in the sport. For Stolz to truly live up to the Heiden comparison, he'll need to seize the Olympic spotlight the same way Heiden did 46 years ago.

Why it matters

Stolz's potential to match or even surpass Heiden's historic Olympic feats has generated significant buzz and excitement around American speedskating, a sport that has struggled to capture the public's attention in recent decades. A dominant performance by Stolz in Milan could reignite interest in the sport and inspire the next generation of American speedskaters.

The details

Stolz, who is 21 years old, has already established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the international speedskating circuit. He has won 16 of the 24 World Cup races he has entered over the past year, showcasing his power, efficiency, and poise under pressure. Stolz is a legitimate threat to win gold medals in the men's 500, 1,000, and 1,500 meters, as well as the unpredictable mass start event. Heiden, who won an unprecedented five gold medals at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, sees a lot of himself in Stolz, from their similar small-town Wisconsin upbringings to their meteoric rises in the sport. For Stolz to truly live up to the Heiden comparison, he'll need to seize the Olympic spotlight the same way Heiden did 46 years ago.

• Stolz made his Olympic debut at age 17 but was too young and green to contend for medals.
• Stolz came back stronger and more determined and ascended to the top of his sport during the following Olympic cycle.
• Stolz publicly set a goal of winning four medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Stolz's first chance to begin stacking medals comes Wednesday night in the men's 1,000 meters.