Wisconsin Speed Skating Star Shatters Olympic Record and Wins Gold

Did you know one of the most talked about Team USA athletes this Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina is a 21-year-old from Wisconsin?

Winter Olympics Excitement

For the last week, I have been glued to my TV watching sports, and this is completely out of the ordinary for me.

Typically, watching another sport on television is an automatic snooze fest for me, but I have no problems staying awake when the Winter Olympics are on.

READ MORE: Rockford Native's Split-Second Olympic Save Goes Viral

I love witnessing the athleticism, adrenaline, and pageantry that comes with the Olympics, and I am obsessed with learning more about Team USA's most shining stars.

This year, everyone is talking about speed skater Jordan Stolz, and after watching his first race on Wednesday night, I had to know more about him.

The Fastest Speed Skater in the World

Jordan Stolz is a 21-year-old from Kewaskum, Wisconsin (located outside of Milwaukee) who learned to skate on a frozen backyard pond as a kid. He is often referred to as the "American star of the Olympic Games", the "Best Olympian of this age", or the "fastest speed skater in the World".

A 2025 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article says Jordan Stolz is "stubborn, funny, opinionated, bold and fearless", but above everything else he is an extremely fast skater with an amazing feel for the ice.

During his teen years Jordan Stolz was already turning heads on the world speedskating circuit. He became the youngest single-distance world champion in history and has won multiple golds at the World Championships.

On Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Jordan Stolz won his first gold at the Milan-Cortina Games, AND he broke the Olympic record for the fastest time in the men's 1,000 meters race.

In case you missed his gold-winning Olympic debut on Wednesday night, here it is:

Jordan Stolz has three more chances to win gold during the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, and I feel confident that he will win them all.

Congratulations and good luck, Jordan! This Olympic-obsessed Illinoisan can't wait to see you surrounded by gold!