American speed skating sensation Jordan Stolz delivered another electrifying performance at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, capturing his second gold medal of the Games while rewriting Olympic history.
The 21-year-old skater stormed through the men’s 500-meter event, posting a blistering time of 33.77 seconds. The run shattered the previous Olympic record and placed Stolz just sixteen-hundredths of a second shy of the world record.
His time also finished eleven-hundredths of a second ahead of the silver medalist, sealing a dominant victory in one of the most dramatic races of the competition.
Historic Race Breaks Olympic Speed Barrier
The race itself unfolded at a breathtaking pace.
Stolz shared the ice with Jenning De Boo of the Netherlands, who delivered an impressive performance of his own, finishing in 33.88 seconds. Both athletes accomplished something never before seen in Olympic competition.
For the first time in Olympic history, the men’s 500 meters finished with times under 34 seconds.
Just moments before Stolz stepped onto the ice, Canada’s Laurent Dubreuil had already broken the Olympic record with a time of 34.26 seconds. Despite the remarkable performance, Dubreuil ultimately had to settle for the bronze medal.
Entering the event, the previous Olympic record stood at 34.32 seconds.
Stolz Makes American Speed Skating History
The gold medal further cemented Stolz’s place in American Olympic history.
With his victory, Stolz became the first American since Eric Heiden in 1980 to capture two gold medals in Olympic speed skating at a single Games.
His earlier triumph came in the 1,000-meter race earlier during the Milan Cortina Olympics.
The win also ended a long drought for the United States in the 500-meter event. The last American to claim gold in the discipline was Joey Cheek in 2006, which also took place in Italy.
Second Olympic Record Of The Games
Stolz’s dominance at the Games has been undeniable.
His gold medal performance in the 1,000-meter race also came with record-breaking speed. In that event, he posted a time of 1:06.28, establishing another Olympic record.
The young American had already entered the Games with the world record in the 1,000 meters. Stolz set that mark in 2024 in Salt Lake City with a time of 1:05.37.
In both Olympic races, Stolz shared the ice with De Boo, who finished with silver medals in each event.
Rising Star Arrived In Milan As Favorite
Stolz did not arrive in Milan as an unknown athlete. In fact, he was widely considered one of the top speed skaters in the world before the Olympics even began.
Heading into the Winter Games, Stolz had already accumulated 17 international titles across major competitions.
Now, with two Olympic gold medals and multiple records to his name, the 21-year-old American has firmly established himself as one of the defining stars of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
