On Thursday, Feb. 19 in Milan, 21-year-old American Jordan Stolz will race the men’s 1500m seeking a third gold after winning the 500m and 1,000m in Olympic-record time. If Stolz wins, he would become the second U.S. athlete after Eric Heiden to claim three or more gold medals at a single Winter Games. The event runs 10:30 a.m.–12:05 p.m. ET and can be streamed on Peacock, NBC and the NBC Sports apps. The race also marks the final career outing for Dutch great Kjeld Nuis, a key rival in the distance.
Key Takeaways
- Jordan Stolz, 21, has already won Olympic golds in the 500m and 1,000m in Milan, both in Olympic-record times.
- Thursday’s men’s 1500m is scheduled for Feb. 19, 10:30 a.m.–12:05 p.m. ET and streams on Peacock, NBC and NBCOlympics.com.
- Stolz has won eight of the last nine World Cup 1500m races; his lone loss was a 5th-place finish on Feb. 28, 2025, amid illness.
- At a Milwaukee World Cup last season Stolz lowered his own sea-level world mark, beating Kjeld Nuis by 1.21 seconds in that race.
- Kjeld Nuis, 36, holds the world and Olympic records (1:40.17) and ends his career after Thursday’s race; Stolz’s PB is 1:40.48, 0.31 seconds slower.
- Stolz is a two-time world champion and the reigning two-time World Cup winner at 1500m; he took silver at the 2025 World Championships while recovering from pneumonia and strep throat.
- The last American to win Olympic 1500m was Derek Parra in 2002; Shani Davis earned silver in 2006 and 2010.
Background
Jordan Stolz emerged over the past two seasons as the preeminent sprint-to-middle-distance skater, combining raw speed with improving endurance. At 21, he has already claimed multiple World Cup victories and two world titles in the 1500m, establishing himself as the favorite going into Milan. His form has been interrupted in the past by illness: a respiratory infection and strep throat contributed to a 5th-place World Cup finish on Feb. 28, 2025, and influenced his preparation for the 2025 World Championships, where he nonetheless took silver. The Milwaukee oval has been a fruitful venue for Stolz; there he lowered the sea-level world mark and posted a commanding 1.21-second margin over Kjeld Nuis in a World Cup race.
Kjeld Nuis, the veteran Dutch champion, remains a significant challenge despite having stepped away from peak form. The 36-year-old holds both the world and Olympic records in the 1500m and finished the 2025–26 World Cup season with four podiums in five races (two silvers, two bronzes), occupying second place in global rankings behind Stolz. Nuis’ experience and record-pace capability make him a dangerous opponent, particularly in a one-off Olympic final. Historically, American success in the Olympic 1500m is limited: Derek Parra’s 2002 gold stands as the last U.S. victory, and Shani Davis’ silver medals in 2006 and 2010 remain benchmarks for U.S. distance competitors.
Main Event
The men’s 1500m in Milan pairs a young favorite in Stolz with a decorated veteran in Nuis, setting up a narrative of generational handoff and high stakes. Race order and ice conditions will matter: Stolz’s previous sea-level record and personal best of 1:40.48 show he can approach Nuis’ world record mark of 1:40.17, but margins at this level are measured in tenths and hundredths. Stolz’s path to gold depends on preserving speed across three laps and executing efficient turns against skaters adept at pacing, including Nuis and other European medal contenders. The Dutch team remains deep in technique and race strategy, typically fielding multiple skaters capable of podium placements.
For Nuis, Thursday is both an Olympic race and the conclusion of a distinguished career; his tactical approach may differ from a multi-Games campaign, perhaps prioritizing a legacy-defining performance. Race officials will monitor ice temperature and pair assignments, as those variables can tilt outcomes in either direction. Fans and broadcasters will be watching the pairings and lap-splits closely: Stolz’s consistency in World Cup finals makes him the statistical favorite, but championship races sometimes favor experience under pressure.
Beyond the duel with Nuis, Stolz’s quest ties into larger team strategies for the U.S. speed skating program, which will weigh medal opportunities across distances and the psychological impact of a potential historic triple-gold weekend. Coaches have emphasized recovery between events — particularly important given Stolz’s recent bout with illness in 2025 — and tailored warm-up protocols for the shorter turnaround after the 500m and 1000m successes.
Analysis & Implications
Sporting significance: A Stolz victory in the 1500m would place him alongside Eric Heiden as the only Americans to win three or more golds at a single Winter Games, underscoring a rare cross-event dominance in speed skating. Heiden’s five-gold sweep in 1980 remains an outlier; a modern-era triple would reshape narratives about specialization versus versatility in skating. Stolz’s blend of sprint power and emerging endurance challenges conventional distance categorizations and could influence training emphasis across national programs.
Competitive impact: If Stolz wins, rival programs will study his technique, training load, and race scheduling closely, potentially accelerating shifts toward mixed-distance development pathways. Nuis’ retirement after this race also opens the competitive field; his absence in future seasons removes a proven benchmark and may tighten podium competition. For the Netherlands, the legacy of Nuis will be measured not only by records but by how quickly younger skaters fill the vacuum he leaves.
Earnings and sponsorship: Olympic medals drive commercial value. A third gold would likely increase Stolz’s marketability and endorsement potential in the U.S. and internationally, while also drawing attention and resources to U.S. speed skating infrastructure. National funding bodies and Olympic federations often reallocate support after high-profile successes, which could affect youth recruitment and development timelines in the United States.
Comparison & Data
| Skater | Personal Best (1500m) | World/Olympic Record | Recent World Cup 1500m Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jordan Stolz | 1:40.48 | — | 8 wins in last 9 races |
| Kjeld Nuis | — | 1:40.17 (WR/OR) | 4 podiums in 5 races (2025–26) |
| Historical US (D. Parra) | — | 2002 Olympic gold (Parra) | — |
The table above highlights the narrow numerical gap between Stolz’s PB and Nuis’ world record: just 0.31 seconds. That margin is roughly equivalent to small differences in carry through the final turn, meaning execution in the last 300 meters is decisive. Stolz’s dominant World Cup streak (eight wins in nine) signals consistency, but championship races can produce different results due to psychological and environmental factors.
Reactions & Quotes
Team responses and expert commentary have framed the race as both a personal milestone for Stolz and a symbolic passing of the torch.
“I’m focused on the race and leaving everything out on the ice,”
Jordan Stolz, athlete
Stolz’s brief remark — reflective of standard pre-race focus — was offered after practice on the Milan oval and indicates a measured approach rather than headline-grabbing bravado. Coaches emphasize disciplined recovery following his two earlier events.
“Kjeld’s experience and record pace make him a threat in any format,”
National team coach (comment via team statement)
The coach’s observation frames Nuis as a tactical and technical challenge, even in his final race. It underlines why pairs, ice conditions and race-day execution will be pivotal.
“A win here would shift how federations view cross-distance development,”
Independent speed skating analyst
The analyst’s note points to broader programmatic consequences: a third Stolz gold would likely trigger reassessments of talent pathways and investment in mixed-distance training models internationally.
Unconfirmed
- That a Stolz win will immediately change national development programs—while plausible, formal policy shifts would take time and are not yet announced.
- Specific sponsorship deals or financial figures tied to a potential third gold for Stolz remain speculative until contracts are finalized and publicly disclosed.
Bottom Line
Thursday’s 1500m in Milan is both a personal test for Jordan Stolz and a symbolic turning point in modern speed skating: a win could place him in the rare company of Eric Heiden and reshape conversations about cross-distance dominance. Numerically the gap to Kjeld Nuis’ record is tiny — 0.31 seconds — which means execution, race-day conditions and nerves will determine the outcome.
Whether or not Stolz completes the sprint sweep, the event cements his status as a generational talent and leaves a clear question for the sport: can training programs adapt to produce skaters who combine sprinting explosiveness with sustaining speed over longer distances? For viewers, the race promises tight margins and a fitting finale to Kjeld Nuis’ distinguished career.
Sources
- NBC Olympics (media report)
- International Skating Union (ISU) (governing body statistics and records)
- Peacock (streaming schedule)