American speed skater Jordan Stolz is set to compete in the 1500m event at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, aiming to complete a rare triple victory after already securing gold in the 500m and 1000m races.
According to ISU Skating, Stolz has a strong track record, having won the 1500m at the World Championships in both 2023 and 2024. This time, he will attempt to replicate that success at the Olympics, with the 1500m often referred to as the King’s Race because it requires a balanced combination of sprint speed and endurance.
Defending Olympic champion Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands acknowledged Stolz’s dominance, calling him “out of sight” ahead of the race. Nuis is also a contender for a medal, along with other athletes including Ning Zhongyan (China), Joep Wennemars (Netherlands), Peder Kongshaug (Norway), Sander Eitrem (Norway), Metoděj Jílek (Czech Republic), Vladimir Semirunniy (Poland), and Finn Sonnekalb (Germany).
The 1500m event is anticipated to feature strategic matchups, as skaters come from different backgrounds—some emphasizing sprint speed while others focus on endurance. For example, Nuis and some of his key rivals, such as Ning and Sonnekalb, are sprint specialists, often pushing a fast pace from the start. Conversely, endurance skaters like Kongshaug, Eitrem, Jílek, and Semirunniy aim to conserve energy for a strong finish.
Nuis expressed a preference for racing alongside a sprint-style competitor, and the schedule matched his wishes: he will race in the outer lane against Ning Zhongyan in one of the later pairs, setting up a potentially exciting duel. Meanwhile, the final pairing of the event will see Stolz face off against Kongshaug.
Following the 1500m, Stolz will also compete in the Mass Start event, which he described as unpredictable but an additional opportunity to perform well. The 1500m race is scheduled to start at 16:00 at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium, with a field of 30 athletes from 17 countries competing.
