(Photo: Daniel Munoz/AFP/Getty Images)
MILAN, Italy — February 14, 2026 — Lightning has struck twice in Milan. Just days after his 1000m win, Jordan Stolz of Kewaskum, Wisconsin, proved he is the undisputed fastest man on ice by winning the men’s 500m speedskating sprint. In a sport decided by thousandths of a second, Stolz looked to be in a league of his own, finishing in 33.77 seconds. The time set his second Olympic record of the week and ended a 20-year gold medal drought for American men in this event. “The 500m is all about the start,” explained U.S. coaches. “If you aren’t perfect in the first 100 meters, it’s over.” Stolz was more than perfect; he was historic. The “Kewaskum Comet”: Stolz is the first skater in history to hold the world junior and world senior titles in the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m simultaneously. His hometown of Kewaskum has become a global focal point for the sport, proving that world-class talent can emerge from the smallest Great Lakes towns.