Jordan Stolz, who secured two gold medals at the Winter Olympics in Milan earlier this year, has decided to part ways with his coach Bob Corby.
NOS Schaatsen, a Dutch news outlet, reports on the split between the athlete and his longtime coach.
Stolz, 22, has trained under Bob Corby since 2018 while also participating in training sessions with the Dutch team coached by Jillert Anema. Speaking to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Stolz explained that his decision was influenced by a long-term perspective, particularly with the 2034 Olympics in mind. “I will need to perform at my peak for the next eight years,” he said. He acknowledged the successful partnership over the past eight years, describing Corby as an excellent coach who helped him make substantial progress.
However, Stolz indicated that he now prefers a different approach to training for the next four years that will better prepare him for sustained performance. The move marks a significant change as Stolz plans to continue his career with a renewed training strategy focused on longevity.
For Bob Corby, aged 76, the announcement came as a surprise. He expressed that he was “shocked” by Stolz’s decision and was disappointed not to have been consulted beforehand. Despite this, Corby is trying to understand the reasons behind the split. Under Corby’s guidance, Stolz achieved notable success, including two gold medals in the 500 and 1,000 meters at the Milan Olympics and six individual distance world titles, along with a world allround title.
