The 21-year-old American world record holder opened his Milan Cortina Games in the men’s 1,000 meters. Here’s how Stolz and the rest of Team USA fared.
WASHINGTON — American speed skater Jordan Stolz delivered on his favorite status Wednesday at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, winning gold in the men’s 1,000 meters and setting an Olympic record.
Stolz, a 21-year-old from Wisconsin, won in 1 minute, 6.28 seconds. He overtook Dutch skater Jenning de Boo in an exhilarating final lap after briefly being passed.
De Boo took silver in 1:06.78. China’s Ning Zhongyan won bronze in 1:07.34.
The victory marked the first U.S. gold medal in the men’s 1,000 meters speed skating event since Shani Davis won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2010.
Stolz entered the race as the world record holder and a two-time world champion. He also went undefeated in the 1,000 on the World Cup circuit this season, going 5-for-5.
Stolz is skating his first of four scheduled events at these Olympics, with starts also planned in the 500 meters, 1,500 and mass start.
Two other Americans finished outside the medals.
Conor McDermott-Mostowy, a 27-year-old competing in his first Olympics, placed ninth in 1:08.48 after facing Ning in his pairing. McDermott-Mostowy won the 1,000m at the U.S. Olympic Trials in January.
Cooper McLeod, a 24-year-old also debuting at the Olympics, finished 19th in 1:09.319. McLeod won a bronze medal at the world championships last year for the 500m race.