Milan, Italy – The search for America’s next Eric Heiden may have found a frontrunner in Jordan Stolz, who launched his 2026 Winter Olympics campaign with a stunning victory in the men’s 1,000 meters on Wednesday, setting a new Olympic record in the process. The win, witnessed by the legendary Heiden himself – and reportedly, Snoop Dogg – has ignited hope that Stolz could replicate the unprecedented feat of the 1980 Lake Placid Games, where Heiden captured five gold medals.
The pressure to find an American successor to Heiden has weighed heavily on Winter Olympians for decades. From Bode Miller to Dan Jansen to Mikaela Shiffrin, numerous athletes have shown promise of multiple gold medals, but none have achieved the same level of dominance as Heiden, whose performance remains a benchmark of Olympic excellence.
Stolz’s triumph in the 1,000 meters, his strongest event, represents a confident first step. However, the road ahead is challenging. He has previously excelled across multiple distances, winning the 500, 1,000, and 1,500 meters at the 2024 World Championships, and securing silver medals in the 500 and 1,500 meters, along with a bronze in the 1,000 meters, last year. A potential gold medal opportunity also exists in the mass start event, though its unpredictable nature adds another layer of complexity.
The 21-year-old Stolz acknowledges the need for near-perfection to contend for three or even four gold medals. “Now I’ve got one,” he said after the race, a sentiment that offers a glimmer of optimism after years of near misses for American hopefuls.
Observers note Stolz’s remarkably calm demeanor, a temperament that appears well-suited for the intense pressure of Olympic competition. He approaches the challenge with a pragmatic focus, as evidenced by his understated response to a journalist’s observation about his composure: “It’s repetition. Winning a 1,000 meters is not something I don’t know how to do.”
His success isn’t accidental. Stolz attributes his results to diligent preparation, both on and off the ice, including focused training on a bicycle during the summer months and meticulous attention to his equipment. “Seeing the work you put in off the ice, you can see that in your results,” he explained.
The victory wasn’t without a moment of concern. Stolz admitted to feeling some nervousness as Dutch skater Jenning de Boo established an early lead. However, he ultimately overtook de Boo in the final turn, a maneuver that de Boo himself acknowledged was difficult to counter. “You can hear his skates coming, and it’s pretty creepy,” de Boo said with a smile. “He’s the only one” who can do it, he added, praising Stolz’s incredible final lap.
The path to replicating Heiden’s historic performance is fraught with difficulty. No American has ever won more than two gold medals at a single Winter Olympics, and only a handful have secured three medals of any color. The challenge is compounded by the nature of winter sports, where specialization is common, making it difficult to excel across multiple disciplines.
While Stolz’s journey is uniquely his own, he can draw inspiration from Swiss Alpine skier Franjo von Allmen, who recently won his third gold medal at these Games. Stolz’s next opportunity comes in the 500 meters on Saturday, followed by the 1,500 meters next Thursday. He hinted at a strategic approach to the 1,500 meters, noting that he sometimes starts slowly and finishes strong – “That’s always fun,” he said with a rare smile.
For a nation that has long awaited its next speedskating icon, Jordan Stolz’s performance offers a renewed sense of hope. The sound of his skates, as described by de Boo, is not just a signal of speed, but a symbol of a potential new era for American Winter Olympics.
