It was so nice, Jordan Stolz did it twice.
The speedskater took home gold in the Olympic men’s 500 meters, setting an Olympic record in the process at the Milan Cortina Games.
Stolz, a 21-year-old Wisconsin native, recorded a time of 33.77 seconds.
Jordan Stolz is pictured Feb. 14. APJenning de Boo (33.88) from the Netherlands took home the silver while Canadian Laurent Dubreuil (34.26) claimed bronze.
It’s the second straight gold medal and Olympic record for Stolz.
He did both in the 1,000 meters, when he recorded a time of 1:06.28.
Stolz was paired with de Boo, just like he was for the 1,000 meters, which de Boo also won silver in.
Jordan Stolz of the United States celebrates winning gold and setting a new Olympic record in the Men’s 500m. REUTERSStolz and de Boo were neck and neck for most of the race Saturday, but Stolz did just enough to edge out the win by 0.11 seconds, sticking out his skate as he crossed the finish line.
Jordan Stolz of the United States in action with Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands REUTERS“We push each other. He’s really strong. I’m also really strong. It’s really cool to see,” Stolz said. “I guess I like being paired together. It makes it more fun for the viewers.”
There were two more pairs left to go after, but none came close to Stolz or de Boo’s time.
Stolz joined American Eric Heiden as the only men to complete the 500-1,000 double in speedskating at one Olympics.
The last American man to win Olympic gold in the 500 meters was Casey FitzRandolph in 2002.
Stolz still has two more competitions to win more golds and set more records — the 1,500 meters and the mass start competition.
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“Going into the 1,500, I have a few days to relax before that. And right now, my speed and endurance feel really good,” said Stolz, who had a best showing of 13th at the Beijing Olympics as a teenager in 2022. “So if I skate a clean race, it should be a good result.”
Heiden, a fellow Wisconsin native, owns the record for most speedskating gold medals at one Olympics, winning five in 1980.
“I will put aside time to go watch Jordan Stolz skate,” Heiden said. “Every once in a while, you get to see some of the best of the best in the sport that sets him apart, and I love taking the opportunity to see a wonderful skater.”
Stolz is now halfway toward securing the most gold medals at one Olympics since Heiden.
“I mean, I guess it’s halfway, but it’s hard to say it’s like a 50 percent chance to get the other two,” Stolz said. “Because you never know what can happen.”
