American speed skater Jordan Stolz shared his thoughts on the recent Dutch Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OKT) and discussed his preparations ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan.
NU.nl, a news outlet in the Netherlands, provides the original coverage.
Jordan Stolz, who is expected to compete against Dutch skaters for the first time in five weeks, is currently training calmly in Inzell before the final World Cup event of the season. The 21-year-old American is not yet experiencing the intense media attention that is anticipated to come with the start of the Olympic Games on February 6. Stolz said he is prepared to manage the increased pressure and attention that come with competing as a frontrunner in Milan, emphasizing that staying focused on skating is his priority.
Stolz attracted attention earlier in the season with commercial appearances, including for NBC and even a cat food brand, but he indicated that he is now concentrating fully on skating and has turned down further commercial opportunities. He observed the Dutch Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Thialf with interest and described the event as entertaining to watch, noting the nervousness visible among competitors. Stolz expressed gratitude that the qualification system in the United States is different, which spared him the stress of his Dutch counterparts who had to compete intensively to secure their Olympic spots.
During the American trials held shortly after the Dutch OKT, Stolz delivered a remarkable performance despite a fall early in his 1,000-meter race. After quickly recovering from the fall, he posted a strong time of 1:07.96, narrowly missing the victory by 0.36 seconds. His coach, Bob Corby, recounted his surprise at Stolz’s swift recovery and determination to continue competing at top speed despite the fall. The performance confirmed Stolz’s status as an exceptional talent highly favored to win medals at the Winter Olympics.
Looking ahead, Stolz is focused on potentially winning four gold medals across the 500, 1,000, 1,500 meters, and mass start events. While acknowledging the legendary achievement of his compatriot Eric Heiden in 1980, who won five Olympic titles, Stolz considers participation in the team pursuit unlikely. His objective remains to perform at his best and convert his current momentum into Olympic success.
