After a blistering start to the Speed Skating season, Stolz has already punched his ticket to the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in three separate events. He completed this after just the second World Cup competition held this past weekend in Calgary, Alberta.
Stolz has been a force to be reckoned with for the past three seasons, particularly in the 500, 1,000, and 1,500-meter distances. His performances at the first two World Cups of the season were nothing short of spectacular. He claimed gold in both the 1,000 and 1,500-meter races at both events, and secured medals in two of his first three 500-meter races.
This early success means he has met the rigorous qualification criteria set by the U.S. Speed Skating, allowing him to bypass the intense pressure of the Olympic trials in January. The relief of early qualification cannot be overstated. It allows an athlete to focus purely on training and peaking at the right moment, without the looming uncertainty of a one-shot trials race. (Memo to the “what if” groups: Yes, Stolz still needs to compete in the events; he can’t just sit at the concession stand and watch the future World Cup races.)
A New Challenge on the Horizon
As if dominating three events wasn’t enough, Stolz is now setting his sights on a fourth: the chaotic and unpredictable mass start. This 16-lap event, often compared to a roller derby on ice, is a test of endurance, strategy, and nerve. In a stunning display of versatility at the Calgary World Cup, Stolz surged from the middle of the pack in the final lap to claim a bronze medal, his first-ever World Cup podium in the event.
This achievement signals that Stolz is more than just a sprinter; he’s a complete skater with the range to compete across different formats. His success in the mass start has inevitably drawn comparisons to the legendary Eric Heiden, the last American speedskater to display such extraordinary versatility. The question is no longer if Stolz can medal at the Olympics, but how many he might bring home.
Chasing US Speed Skating History
Stolz will be chasing long track speed skating history. If he is to continue his dominance and medal multiple times, he will quickly move his name up the board as one of the best in USA speed skating history.
Gold Medal history for US Men’s Speed Skating:
- Chamonix 1924: Charles Jewtraw wins the first-ever men’s 500m Olympic Speed Skating event.
- Lake Placid 1932: Jack Shea becomes the first American to win two gold medals at a single Winter Olympics.
- Innsbruck 1976: Peter Mueller wins gold in the 1000m.
- Lake Placid 1980: Eric Heiden completes a historic sweep, winning five gold medals and setting an Olympic record in every event (500m, 1000m, 1500m, 5000m, 10000m). He is the first athlete to win five individual gold medals at a single Olympic Games.
- Lillehammer 1994: Dan Jansen wins gold and sets a world record in the 1000m.
- Torino 2006: The U.S. team has a dominant showing.
- Joey Cheek: Gold in the 500m
- Shani Davis: Gold in the 1000m
- Chad Hedrick: Gold in the 5000m
- Vancouver 2010: Shani Davis wins his second consecutive gold medal in the 1000m.
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