American speed skating sensation Jordan Stolz is on the brink of history at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, with the men’s 1500m offering a chance to complete a remarkable triple-gold performance.
The 21-year-old has already captured gold medals in the 500m and 1000m, setting an Olympic record in the latter. A victory in the 1500m would make him just the second American Winter Olympian to win three or more gold medals at a single Games, joining legendary skater Eric Heiden, who famously swept all five of his events at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics.
Sprint King Targets Distance Crown
Though widely regarded as the world’s premier sprint skater, Stolz has also dominated the 1500m over the past two seasons. A two-time world champion and reigning World Cup champion in the distance, he has won eight of his last nine World Cup races in the event.
His only recent setback came in early 2025 while battling pneumonia and strep throat — illnesses that lingered into the World Championships, where he still managed to earn silver.
Last season in Milwaukee, Stolz shattered his own sea-level world record in the 1500m, winning by more than a full second over his closest competitors — a massive margin in a race often decided by tenths or hundredths of a second.
His personal best of 1:40.48 places him within striking distance of the world record held by Dutch veteran Kjeld Nuis (1:40.17).
Final Dance for a Dutch Legend
Thursday’s 1500m will also mark the final Olympic appearance for Nuis, the two-time defending Olympic champion in the event. The 36-year-old closed out the 2025–26 World Cup season ranked second in the world behind Stolz, collecting four podium finishes in five races.
Nuis’ experience and championship pedigree make him one of the biggest obstacles standing between Stolz and a third gold medal.
Rising Stars Add to Competitive Field
The field extends beyond the American-Dutch rivalry. Germany’s Finn Sonnekalb, just 18 years old, has emerged as one of the sport’s brightest young talents. He claimed junior world titles in both the 1000m and 1500m and broke Stolz’s junior world record last November.
China’s Ning Zhongyan, currently ranked third globally, also remains a podium threat after securing Olympic bronze in the 1000m earlier in the Games.
Every 1500m World Cup podium this season has featured some combination of Stolz, Nuis, Sonnekalb, and Ning — underscoring just how tight Thursday’s race could be.
American Depth in the Field
Team USA will also be represented by Casey Dawson and Emery Lehman, fresh off a silver medal performance in the men’s team pursuit earlier this week.
Still, the spotlight remains firmly on Stolz. A third gold medal would not only cement his status as the breakout star of Milan but also place him among the greatest single-Games performers in U.S. Winter Olympic history.
As speed skating continues in Milan, all eyes turn to the 1500m — where history, legacy, and Olympic glory hang in the balance.
