Since he burst onto the scene with two surprise wins at the 2022 Olympic Trials at age 17, Stolz has completely dominated the sprint world. In the 1000m alone, he owns two world titles, two World Cup titles, the overall world record, and the sea-level world record. With five wins in five 1000m races this season — three of which he skated in track-record time — Stolz now owns a 14-race unbeaten streak in the distance on the World Cup level.
He is also a two-time world champion and the two-time reigning World Cup champion in the 500m and 1500m, which he’ll race in Milan. He’ll go for a fourth medal in the mass start, an event he added to his program just this season.
In Milan, Stolz could become the second-ever American athlete after fellow Wisconsinite Eric Heiden to collect three or more gold medals at a single Winter Games. Heiden, also a speed skater, won gold in all five of his events at the 1980 Lake Placid Games. Stolz is about three weeks older than Heiden was when he won his first event in 1980.
Stolz will take on his second challenge, the men’s 500m, Saturday, Feb. 14. While he hopes for another gold, he said he’s not focusing on the expectations placed on him as he looks ahead.
“[Winning gold is] definitely a sigh of relief, just to know what to expect, and it’s also a boost of confidence, but I’m sure everybody’s going to be doing very well, so it’s not like I’ll get ahead of myself,” Stolz told the media. “I’ll still be there trying to do my best.”
Still, it’s easier to imagine the possibility of making multiple Olympic podiums now that he has one race under his belt.
“It’s hard to say, ‘Oh, I could win four medals’ when you haven’t even won one yet,” Stolz said. “Now that I’ve won one, I kind of know what to expect. “