Olympics News Brief: Jordan Stolz wins gold in 500m speedskating
Gold medallist Jordan Stolz of the United States celebrates after breaking the Olympic record during the men's 500 meters speedskating event at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 14, 2026.
Yves Herman/Reuters
Milan
The Dutch press smelled a chance.
In Wednesday鈥檚 1,000-meter speedskating race, American Jordan Stolz had started slowly and needed nearly every meter to beat his fiercest rival, Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands.
Did that slow start mean he was doomed in the 500 meters?, they asked.
Ever enjoying the game, Mr. Stolz smiled.
鈥淲e鈥檒l see,鈥� he said.
On Saturday, we did.
Mr. Stolz did not need the extra 500 meters to catch Mr. De Boo, setting his second Olympic record on his way to his second gold of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Mr. de Boo finished 0.11 seconds behind. Canadian Laurent Debreuil finished third with his own Olympic record time 鈥� until Messrs. Stoltz and de Boo both smashed it.
Always the jolly warrior in true Dutch speedskating fashion, Mr. de Boo was not too disappointed after the 1,000 meters earlier in the week. Losing the 500 meters was a bit harder to take.
鈥淭he silver medal tastes a little less sweet than the 1,000 meters, because people say the 500 is my distance, so this is where I should have done it,鈥� he said.
鈥淪tolz鈥檚 era has already begun,鈥� he added. 鈥淚 am part of it. I hope my era is yet to come.鈥�
The Canadian who shared the podium agreed.
鈥淚 think Jordan is the best speedskater of all time,鈥� said Mr. Dubreuil. 鈥淚 think those two are the two best sprinters of all time. I don鈥檛 think it happens often that you set an Olympic record and then you lose by half a second. I鈥檓 just happy there鈥檚 not three of them,鈥� said Mr.聽Debreuil.
On Thursday, Mr. Stolz will have the chance to become only the second American Olympian ever to win three gold medals in a single Winter Games. The first, who won five total, was in attendance Saturday: Eric Heiden.