Jordan Stolz Cements Olympic Speedskating Legacy

The 21-year-old American wins second gold medal, breaking Olympic records

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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American speedskater Jordan Stolz, 21, continued his dominant performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, winning his second gold medal in the men's 500-meter event. Stolz set a new Olympic record time of 33.77 seconds, besting his Dutch rival Jenning de Boo. This comes after Stolz's earlier gold medal in the 1,000-meter race, where he also set an Olympic best time. Stolz is now being hailed as potentially the greatest speedskater of all time, with the possibility of winning up to four gold medals at these Games, just one shy of the record held by American Eric Heiden.

Why it matters

Stolz's performance has cemented his status as a rising star in the sport of speedskating. At just 21 years old, he is already being compared to legends like Eric Heiden, and his dominance across multiple events has sparked conversations about whether he could be the greatest speedskater ever. Stolz's success also represents a major achievement for American speedskating, which has struggled to produce elite talent in recent Olympics.

The details

In the 500-meter final, Stolz was paired with Dutch rival Jenning de Boo, and the two dueled throughout the race. Stolz's blistering pace on the backstretch allowed him to pull away and set a new Olympic record time of 33.77 seconds, just edging out de Boo. After the race, a frustrated de Boo fell and slid into the wall, showing his disappointment at being unable to beat Stolz. Stolz's time was also the fastest-ever 500-meter race at sea level, bettering the previous world record set at altitude.

  • On February 14, 2026, Jordan Stolz won the men's 500-meter speedskating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
  • Three nights earlier, on February 11, 2026, Stolz had won the gold medal in the men's 1,000-meter event.

The players

Jordan Stolz

A 21-year-old American speedskater who has emerged as a dominant force in the sport, winning multiple world championships and now two gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Jenning de Boo

A 22-year-old Dutch speedskater who has finished second to Stolz in both the 500-meter and 1,000-meter events at the 2026 Olympics.

Bob Corby

Stolz's coach, who provided him with key strategic advice before the 500-meter final.

Eric Heiden

An American speedskating legend who holds the record for most gold medals won by a male athlete at a single Winter Olympics, with five. Heiden was present at the 2026 Olympics to witness Stolz's performance.

Hannah Stolz

Jordan Stolz's older sister, who was a competitive speedskater herself before pursuing a career in bird taxidermy, which she has found great success in.

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What they’re saying

“I have a bit more of a bitter taste in my mouth than in the 1,000 meters, because I think the 500 is my best distance. So this would have been the distance I should have done it at.”

— Jenning de Boo, Dutch Speedskater (Time)

“I think Jordan's the greatest speedskater of all-time. Not a lot of guys open faster than him, and all those that do just die after 3[00], 400 meters. And he's the huge favorite for the 1,500. If I raced a 1,500, I would finish last and wouldn't even probably medal against the women. Because I'm training for 500. I'm just a sprinter. He's good at everything. That's what's incredible. His ability to put power in the ice when all the other top sprinters are dead. It's unbelievable to watch, but it's not something I think we can copy. He's just physically superior to us.”

— Laurent Dubreuil, Canadian Speedskater (Time)

“I'm proud to be mentioned in the same sentence as Jordan Stolz. That kid's a stud.”

— Eric Heiden (Time)

What’s next

Stolz is expected to compete in the men's 1,500-meter event on February 19 and the mass start event on February 21, where he could potentially win two more gold medals and tie or surpass Eric Heiden's record of five golds at a single Winter Olympics.

The takeaway

Jordan Stolz's dominant performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics has cemented his status as one of the greatest speedskaters of all time, and his success represents a major triumph for American speedskating. At just 21 years old, Stolz has the potential to rewrite the record books and cement his legacy as an Olympic legend.