In his first race of the 2026 Winter Olympics, 21-year-old speed skating phenom Jordan Stolz won the men's 1000m by the largest margin of victory on the Olympic level since 1984, skating across the finish line in 1 minute, 6.28 seconds for a new Olympic record Wednesday. The previous mark of 1:07.18 was set by the Netherlands' Gerard van Velde in February 2002 — over two years before Stolz was born in May 2004.

Each of the four races contested so far in Milan have been won in Olympic record time.

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As he often does, Stolz got off to a slow start, posting the fourth-slowest opening 200m split (16.18). He found his groove in the third and final lap, sailing across the finish line half a second ahead of Dutch skater Jenning de Boo, who ended in 2nd. 

"I thought I was feeling good in the beginning, and then Jenning just came by me, and I thought, 'Wow, maybe he's good enough to win the gold, and then I'll be getting second.' And then in that second-to-last turn, I was like, 'No, I can't let this happen," Stolz told NBC Sports' Lewis Johnson after the race. "So, I threw two arms down and I just went as hard as I possibly could, and I made it."

His win marks the first time since 2010 that an American man has earned Olympic gold, as well as the first time a U.S. man has won an individual Olympic speed skating medal in the same span.

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. "

De Boo, who is four month Stolz's senior, emerged as Stolz's primary rival when he finished ahead of Stolz in two events at the 2025 World Championships: the 500m (gold) and the 1000m (silver). He finished the season as the world No. 3 in the distance.

De Boo's final time Wednesday (1:06.78) also eclipsed the previous Olympic record.

"Of course, in the back of my head, there was the gold medal. That's why I came here. That's why you start at the Olympics, for that gold," de Boo said. "But for me, this was the maximum right now. [Stolz] was the better man today. I can't ignore that. All in all, I can be happy with my race."

The Netherlands had won the last three-straight Olympic 500m races. With de Boo's silver, the country has made the podium in seven of the last nine.

"This medal means so much. This is my Olympic debut, and to end my first race with a medal is incredible," de Boo said. "It's such a happy feeling." 

Dutch teammate Joep Wennemars, who won the race ahead of de Boo at the 2025 World Championships, was granted a reskate after his opponent, China's Lian Ziwen, failed to give way during a crossover and bumped into Wennemars. He finished off the podium in 5th place.

All three will face off again in the 500m.

Ning Zhongyan rounded out the podium, earning China's first-ever medal in the event. 

American Conor McDermott Mostowy landed in 9th, and Cooper McLeod finished 19th in their Olympic debuts.

Competition continues Thursday, Feb. 12, with the women's 5000m. It is the only event on the speed skating program without an American competitor.

Skaters are scheduled to take the ice at 10:30 a.m. E.T.