Jordan Stolz Poised for Historic Third Speed Skating Gold in Milan Mass Start
Updated (4 articles)
Stolz Enters Mass Start With Two Golds and a Silver At 21, Jordan Stolz has already captured gold in the 500‑meter and 1,000‑meter races and a silver in the 1,500‑meter event at the Milan‑Cortina Games, positioning him to become the first man in 32 years to leave a Winter Olympics with three speed‑skating golds after Johann Olav Koss in 1994 [1][2][3]. His 1,500‑meter time of 1:42.75 was just shy of the Olympic record, underscoring the narrow margin separating him from a historic triple‑gold sweep [4]. Stolz’s rapid rise follows modest finishes in Beijing 2022, where he placed 13th and 14th in the 1,000 m and 500 m respectively [2][3].
Mass‑Start Semifinals and Final Scheduled for Saturday Morning The men’s mass‑start semifinals begin at 9 a.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, Feb. 21, with the top eight of 14 athletes advancing to a 10:40 a.m. final the same day [2][3]. Unlike timed heats, the mass start pits all skaters together for 16 laps (6,400 m), creating tactical jostling and unpredictable outcomes that Stolz describes as a “toss‑up” [1]. The semifinals and finals are both slated for Saturday afternoon local time (3 p.m. and later) in Milan [1].
Only Fellow American Qualifier Is Two‑Time Olympian Ethan Cepuran Ethan Cepuran, a two‑time Olympian with prior silver and bronze medals, is the sole other U.S. skater qualified for the men’s mass start, racing in the second semifinal alongside Stolz [1][2][3]. Cepuran’s experience in team‑pursuit silver adds depth to the American roster, which also includes women’s skaters Mia Manganello and Greta Myers [1]. Both athletes aim to secure podium spots as the United States fields a compact but competitive squad [1].
Broadcast Plans Include Peacock Live Stream and Prime‑Time Re‑air The mass‑start final will be streamed live on Peacock and NBC Olympics, with a primetime replay on NBC and USA Network at 8 p.m. Eastern Time [2][3]. These platforms ensure wide U.S. viewership of Stolz’s final Olympic event, which concludes his four‑race program in Italy [2][3]. NBC’s coverage highlights the historic stakes of a potential third gold for the American skater [2].
Recent 1500 m Result Shows Stolz Missed Triple‑Gold Sweep China’s Ning Zhongyan won the 1,500 m gold in a Games‑record 1:41.98, pushing Stolz to silver with a time of 1:42.75 [4]. Coach Bob Corby attributed Stolz’s loss to an off‑day rather than mental factors, noting Ning “did his best” while Stolz “didn’t have his best race” [4]. Dutch skater Kjeld Nuis claimed bronze, finishing just 0.07 s behind Stolz, adding to his own Olympic résumé [4].
Sources
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1.
AP: Jordan Stolz Poised for Historic Third Speedskating Gold at Milan – Highlights Stolz’s two golds, silver, the mass‑start pack format, his chance to match Koss’s 1994 feat, and includes quotes from Canadian Valerie Maltais
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2.
WBNS: Jordan Stolz Targets Third Gold in 2026 Mass Start – Details semifinal and final times, live Peacock broadcast, Stolz’s progression from modest 2022 results, and notes Ethan Cepuran as the only other U.S. qualifier
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3.
King5: Jordan Stolz Targets Third Gold in Olympic Mass Start – Mirrors WBNS schedule, emphasizes broadcast plan, recounts Beijing placements, and underscores Cepuran’s Olympic pedigree
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4.
AP: Ning Zhongyan Wins Olympic 1,500 m Gold, Ending Jordan Stolz’s Streak – Reports Ning’s record‑setting win, Stolz’s silver time, coach Corby’s analysis, and bronze medalist Kjeld Nuis
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Timeline
1980 – Eric Heiden wins five long‑track speed‑skating gold medals at Lake Placid, setting a historic benchmark for Olympic dominance that later athletes still measure against[1].
1994 – Johann Olav Koss captures three gold medals in Lillehammer, becoming the last male skater before 2026 to leave a Winter Games with a triple‑gold haul[1].
Feb 2022 – At the Beijing Winter Olympics, Jordan Stolz finishes 13th in the 1,000 m and 14th in the 500 m, a modest showing that precedes his rapid rise to world‑champion status[3].
Feb 19, 2026 – Ning Zhongyan wins the men’s 1,500 m in Milan‑Cortina with a Games‑record 1:41.98, overtaking Jordan Stolz who takes silver in 1:42.75; Coach Bob Corby says Stolz “didn’t have his best race” while Ning “did his best”[2].
Feb 20, 2026 – Jordan Stolz announces his bid for a third Olympic gold in the men’s mass‑start, having already secured 500 m and 1,000 m golds and a 1,500 m silver; the semifinals begin at 9 a.m. ET with the final at 10:40 a.m., and teammate Ethan Cepuran joins him as the only other U.S. qualifier[3][4].
Feb 21, 2026 – The men’s mass‑start semifinals start at 3 p.m. local (9 a.m. ET) and the final follows later that afternoon; Stolz calls the race a “tossup” and Canadian bronze‑medalist Valerie Maltais describes it as “anyone’s race,” underscoring its tactical unpredictability[1].
Feb 21, 2026 – If Stolz wins the mass‑start, he becomes the first man in 32 years to earn three speed‑skating golds at a single Winter Games, matching Koss’s 1994 feat and joining an elite group that includes Heiden and Skoblikova[1].