The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan have solidified 21-year-old American Jordan Stolz as a generational talent, though his quest for a historic triple-gold sweep met a formidable challenge today. After dominating the sprint distances earlier this week, Stolz secured a silver medal in the 1500-metre event on 19 February 2026, finishing behind a dominant performance by China’s Ning Zhongyan.
Stolz entered the Milano Speed Skating Stadium on Thursday as the heavy favourite, having already captured gold in both the 500m and 1000m events. In the 1500m final, Stolz clocked a time of 1:42.75. While a remarkable feat, it was not enough to overcome Ning, who took the gold. This silver adds to an already historic Olympic campaign for the Wisconsin native, who has become the face of American winter sports this month.
Olympic Dominance and Records
Prior to today’s silver, Stolz’s performance in Milan was nothing short of flawless. He opened his campaign by winning the 1000-metre gold with an Olympic record time of 1:06.28, shattering a standard that had stood since 2002. He followed that performance on Saturday, 14 February, by winning the 500-metre gold in 33.77 seconds, setting yet another Olympic record.
By winning the 500m and 1000m double, Stolz ended a two-decade drought for the United States in the sprint distances, becoming the first American man since Joey Cheek (2006) to claim gold in the 500m. His top speed during these Games has been clocked at a staggering 58 km/h (36 mph).
A Global Phenomenon
Stolz’s rise from a five-year-old skating on a frozen pond in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, to a multi-medal Olympian has captured international attention. High-profile supporters, including gymnastics legend Simone Biles, have been spotted in Milan cheering for the skater. His training regimen has also been a point of interest, including recent practice sessions with Dutch star Jutta Leerdam.
With two golds and one silver already secured in Milan, Stolz remains one of the most successful athletes of these Games. While the 1500m gold proved elusive today, his overall performance confirms his status as a “Speedskating GOAT” in the making, holding multiple world and Olympic records simultaneously at just 21 years of age.
| Event | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1000m | Gold | Olympic Record (1:06.28) |
| 500m | Gold | Olympic Record (33.77) |
| 1500m | Silver | Time: 1:42.75 (19 Feb 2026) |