Chinese skater Ning Zhongyan won the 1500m speed skating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, preventing American Jordan Stolz from securing a third consecutive gold medal in Milano Cortina.
According to ISU Skating, Ning delivered an outstanding performance by breaking the previous Olympic record held by defending champion Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands. Ning finished in 1 minute and 41.98 seconds, surpassing Nuis’s record by 1.23 seconds. Stolz finished second, trailing Ning by 0.77 seconds, while Nuis earned the bronze medal just 0.07 seconds behind Stolz.
Ning started in the inner lane, which he acknowledged was not ideal, as it offered fewer drafting opportunities compared to the outer lane drawn by Nuis. However, he strategically capitalized on a crucial part of the race between 700 and 1100 meters by skating a sub-26-second lap to establish a lead that allowed him to maintain the advantage until the end. Ning attributed his success to detailed race planning with his coach Johan de Wit, which emphasized an aggressive start and strong early laps.
Stolz expressed respect for Ning’s performance after the race. Despite his best effort, Stolz was unable to overcome Ning’s pace, admitting he did not have the endurance to improve upon his early splits. Stolz also voiced admiration for Ning, highlighting the mutual respect among the medalists. Before the race, Ning had wished Nuis good luck, recognizing the Dutchman’s intention to retire following this Olympics.
Nuis, who won bronze, became the most decorated athlete in Olympic 1500m history by securing his third consecutive medal in the event, having claimed gold in 2018 and 2022. Reflecting on his achievement, Nuis acknowledged the level of competition posed by younger skaters and hinted at possibly retiring from Olympic competition, although he humorously left open a chance to compete again if the Games are hosted in Thialf.
Ning shared emotional remarks about his journey to Olympic gold, noting the challenges and setbacks he faced throughout his skating career. He suggested that his experiences and perseverance made the victory more meaningful and expressed pride in what he has accomplished.
Looking ahead, Stolz appeared optimistic about his career, considering the possibility of competing up to the 2034 Olympics. He also downplayed comparisons to Eric Heiden’s historic five gold medals won in a single Olympic Games, recognizing the uniqueness of that feat.
