Wisconsin Speedskater Jordan Stolz Dominates 2026 Olympics

Stolz, a 21-year-old from rural Kewaskum, Wisconsin, sets Olympic records on his way to gold medals.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Before becoming an Olympic gold medalist and global speedskating sensation, Jordan Stolz honed his skills on a hand-cleared patch of ice on a frozen pond behind his family's home in the small town of Kewaskum, Wisconsin. Stolz, who was home-schooled to accommodate his rigorous training schedule, has now burst onto the international stage, shattering Olympic records and drawing comparisons to legendary skater Eric Heiden.

Why it matters

Stolz's remarkable rise from a rural Wisconsin upbringing to Olympic dominance is an inspiring story that highlights the power of dedication, hard work, and perseverance. His success also shines a light on the growth of speedskating in the United States and the ability of athletes from small-town backgrounds to compete at the highest levels of their sport.

The details

Stolz, who is just 21 years old, recently set two Olympic records at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan. He won gold in the 1,000-meter race with a time of 1:06.28, the largest margin of victory in the event since 1984. Stolz's path to the Olympics was unconventional, as he was home-schooled and trained on a backyard pond in Kewaskum, a small village of just 4,500 people, rather than at a high-tech training facility. Despite his non-traditional education and training, Stolz has emerged as a dominant force in the sport, winning a total of 43 World Cup medals, 9 World Single Distances Championships medals, and 7 World Junior Championships medals.

  • Stolz first laced up skates and began training on a hand-cleared patch of ice on a frozen pond behind his family's home in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, inspired by watching the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
  • Stolz was home-schooled starting around age 9 to accommodate his rigorous training schedule and international competition.
  • Stolz earned his high school diploma through home-schooling in 2023 and transitioned directly into professional skating, joining the Dutch team Albert Heijn Zaanlander.
  • Stolz set Olympic records in the 1,000-meter race at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, winning gold with a time of 1:06.28.

The players

Jordan Stolz

A 21-year-old speedskater from Kewaskum, Wisconsin, who has emerged as a dominant force in the sport, setting multiple Olympic records and winning gold medals at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan.

Dirk Stolz

Jordan Stolz's father, who installed floodlights around the family's backyard pond so his son could practice long after the sun went down.

Jane Stolz

Jordan Stolz's mother, who famously made him wear a blue life jacket over his snowsuit when he first started skating on the family's backyard pond as a safety precaution.

Eric Heiden

A legendary American speedskater who has been compared to Jordan Stolz for his dominant performances at the Olympics.

Albert Heijn Zaanlander

The Dutch professional speedskating team that Jordan Stolz currently skates for.

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What they’re saying

“Before the bright lights of Milan and the precision of high-tech indoor rinks, Stolz's training facility was a hand-cleared patch of ice on a pond behind his family home.”

— Jake Mozarsky, Author (sportingnews.com)

“From the 45-mile daily commutes to the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee to his record-breaking debut on the Olympic stage, Stolz remains tethered to his rural roots.”

— Jake Mozarsky, Author (sportingnews.com)

What’s next

Stolz is expected to continue competing at the highest levels of speedskating, with the 2030 Winter Olympics in Vancouver being a potential next major event for the young star.

The takeaway

Jordan Stolz's remarkable journey from a small-town Wisconsin upbringing to Olympic glory is a testament to the power of dedication, hard work, and perseverance. His success has inspired many and shines a light on the growth of speedskating in the United States, proving that athletes from rural backgrounds can compete and excel at the highest levels of their sport.