(Photo: Ben Curtis/ AP)
MILAN, Italy — February 11, 2026 — The speedskating world has a new king, and he hails from the frozen ponds of Wisconsin. Jordan Stolz, the 21-year-old phenom from West Bend, officially transitioned from rising star to Olympic legend today by capturing gold in the men’s 1000m. Skating with a technical precision that left spectators at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium breathless, Stolz clocked a staggering 1:06.28. The time did more than just secure the top step of the podium; it shattered the previous Olympic record and represented the largest winning margin the Games have seen in this event since 1984. “I didn’t think about the record, I just thought about the ice,” Stolz said after the race. “Growing up on the ponds in Wisconsin, you learn to just feel the glide.” Fun Fact: Stolz is known for his unconventional training; he gained massive leg strength as a teenager by speedskating on a makeshift 400-meter track his father plowed onto the frozen lake behind their home. Unlike many skaters who rely on high-tech indoor facilities, Stolz credits the “hard, bumpy ice” of the Midwest for his unmatched stability.