American speed skater Jordan Stolz broke two track records at Thialf and expressed his ambition to also set the 500-meter record in the upcoming event.
According to NOS, the 21-year-old Stolz first took the track record from Kjeld Nuis on the 1500-meter and then proceeded to surpass Jenning de Boo’s record in the 1000-meter during the World Cup event in Heerenveen. Stolz described his recent 1000-meter race as potentially his best ever, an achievement supported by former skater and NOS analyst Mark Tuitert, who said the performance was “possibly the best 1000 meters ever,” noting Stolz cut seven-tenths of a second from the previous track record.
Tim Prins, who finished third in the same 1000-meter race, acknowledged Stolz’s exceptional pace, particularly as skaters had been anticipating a time under 1:06 on this track. Stolz himself remarked that his time would have been a world record if achieved at a high-altitude rink such as Salt Lake City, underscoring the quality of his performance. Despite this, Stolz stated he is not yet peaking and believes he can improve further.
Looking ahead, Stolz aims to secure the 500-meter track record as well, currently held by Jenning de Boo with a time of 33.98 seconds. Stolz’s personal best on this distance is 34.01 seconds, but he is confident in his current form and intends to try to set a new record at the upcoming race.
While Stolz showed commanding form, Dutch competitors indicated some fatigue as they prepare to peak for the Olympic qualification event at the end of the month. Tuitert noted that Stolz’s form during the Heerenveen World Cup demonstrated top-level condition. Overall, Stolz’s performances suggest he will be among the favorites heading into the Olympic season.
