Jordan Stolz Sets Another Olympic Record To Win His Second Speedskating Gold

MILAN — His competitors flashed by pinch still much than half a thigh to go. Jordan Stolz, sitting other of nan decorativeness statement staring astatine a ample video board, looked astatine his coach and nodded. The U.S. emblem softly came retired of a backpack for his impending triumph lap.

The 21-year-old speedskating prima won his 2nd Olympic badge of nan Milan-Cortina Games, mounting an Olympic grounds successful nan 500 meters connected Saturday astatine 33.77 seconds. He became conscionable nan 2nd U.S. man to triumph nan 500 meters and 1,000 meters successful nan aforesaid Winter Games, joining Eric Heiden, who accomplished nan feat successful 1980 en way to 5 golden medals.

Heiden looked connected successful nan crowd astatine Milano Speed Skating Arena arsenic Stolz edged retired nan Netherlands’ Jenning de Boo, who was paired pinch Stolz and vanished 0.11 seconds down nan U.S. star. Canada’s Laurent Dubreuil took bronze astatine 34.26 seconds, which besides stood arsenic nan Olympic record. Skating 3 pairs earlier Stolz and de Boo, nan 33-year-old Dubreuil knew his people wouldn’t last.

“I deliberation Jordan’s nan top speedskater of each time,” Dubreuil said. “I deliberation those 2 are nan 2 champion sprinters of each time.”

The epic title betwixt Stolz and de Boo is nan latest successful their budding rivalry. De Boo vanished half a 2nd down Stolz successful nan 1,000 meters connected Wednesday, but knew he had a amended chance to drawback nan Wisconsin autochthonal successful nan 500. De Boo’s coach advised him that he needed to hit Stolz retired of nan past area to person a chance because Stolz was coming from nan outer lane, wherever he would person much speed.

The prima racers were moreover astatine nan captious point. De Boo knew it was over.

Stolz casually took disconnected his hood and shook his fist successful nan aerial aft crossing nan decorativeness line. De Boo slid into nan padded wall, seemingly much retired of vexation than thing else.

“He’s nan man to hit correct now,” de Boo said. “I’m doing my absolute champion to hit him, but he’s conscionable crazy strong.”

Stolz is halfway done his eager four-event programme successful Milan pinch 2 golden medals already. An elite sprinter whose commencement was faster than de Boo’s by seven-hundredths of a second, Stolz besides has nan endurance to past a 1,500. Without arrogance, he tin opportunity he is hoping to triumph Thursday’s 1,500-meter race. A golden badge successful nan wide commencement connected Feb. 21 would beryllium “a bonus,” Stolz said.

“If I raced a 1,500, I would decorativeness last,” Dubreuil said. “Wouldn’t moreover astir apt badge against nan women because I’m training for 500. I’m conscionable a sprinter. He’s bully astatine everything. … It’s unbelievable to watch, but it’s not thing I deliberation we tin copy. He’s conscionable physically superior.”

Stolz could go nan first man to triumph 3 golden medals successful speedskating astatine 1 Olympics since 1994, erstwhile Norway’s Johann Olav Koss won nan 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000.

After a promising, but medal-less Olympic debut successful Beijing, Stolz has go 1 of nan biggest U.S. names successful Milan while immoderate of his chap title contenders person flamed out. Gold-medal favourite fig skater Ilia Malinin stumbled to eighth successful stunning fashion, citing nan unit of his first Olympics. Snowboarder Chloe Kim’s came up short of a historical 3rd consecutive golden badge and settled for silver. Lindsey Vonn was airlifted disconnected nan people aft breaking her limb successful a convulsive crash.

Gold medalist Jordan Stolz of nan United States, center, celebrates connected nan podium pinch metallic medalist Jenning de Boo of nan Netherlands, left, and bronze medalist Laurent Dubreuil of Canada aft nan men’s 500 meters successful speedskating astatine Winter Games connected Saturday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Yet Stolz appears unfazed by nan moment.

“I benignant of felt [the nerves] successful nan beginning, earlier nan 1,000, but it’s thing you conscionable person to woody pinch and get retired of your mind,” Stolz said, “because if it’s going to impact your racing — you can’t beryllium letting things for illustration that impact you, particularly if you only person 1 chance to win.”

Stolz has much chances but will walk astatine slightest 1 time soaking successful this one, he said. He took a triumph thigh astir nan arena pinch nan U.S. emblem flying supra his caput arsenic red, achromatic and blue-clad fans chanted “U-S-A!” Even nan Dutch fans, forming a wall of agleam orangish each astir nan racing oval, clapped successful admiration.