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Jordan Stolz (USA) starts his campaign at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 with the 1000m on Wednesday. Of the four races he's going to contest in Milan, the 1000m has been his most consistent and best over the past two seasons, and this season he won all five World Cup races at the distance. 

Damian Zurek (POL), who took three silver medals, was his closest rival, but there are many more contenders for the podium.

Stolz: Four years wiser

At the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, as a 17-year-old junior, Stolz finished 13th in the 500m and 14th in the 1000m. Four years later, as a six-time World Champion, he enters the Olympic Games as the red-hot favorite in the 500m, 1000m and 1500m. How does it compare?

"I have a better understanding of how to prepare for the races, rather than it was four years ago,” Stolz explains.

“So right now, I'm just doing what I know I can do, and so far, I'm feeling really good, and I think I'll be good tomorrow if I get a clean race."

Jordan Stolz (USA) finished 14th in the 1000m at the Beijing Games in 2022. He arrives in Milan hot favourite in three distances © Getty Images

Looking at his results over recent seasons, Stolz would agree that the 1000m has been his most consistent distance, but he doesn't want to speculate about medal chances. 

"I'm feeling really good right now, so I think I should just focus on skating a good race."

If Stolz wins, he'll follow in the footsteps of his mentor Shani Davis (USA), who won the distance at the 2006 and 2010 Olympic Games. 

'Undefeated' Nuis predicts thriller

The 1000m gold medal has belonged to the Netherlands in the last three Olympics, with Dutchmen Stefan Groothuis (2014), Kjeld Nuis (2018) and Thomas Krol (2022) all taking the title. 

Nuis is still around, and having won the 1000m and the 1500m in 2018 and the 1500m in 2022, he has never lost a race at the Olympic Games.

Kjeld Nuis (NED) won 1500m and 1000m gold in PyeongChang 2018, retaining the 1500m in Beijing © Getty Images

"I'm standing here as the only undefeated man, that's a little fact you're all going to write down," he joked with assembled Dutch journalists on the day before the race.

"Tomorrow, that's going to change unfortunately. Sorry guys, I'm not going to win this one."

It’s not false modesty: Nuis simply thinks Stolz is unbeatable at the moment. 

"Of course, if you compete you can win, but it wouldn't make any sense if I were to say that now. 

"For me a podium spot is the best I can get."

Behind the dominant Stolz, according to Nuis there are at least eight other skaters who can make it to the podium.

"It's going to be an absolute thriller tomorrow," he said. 

Zurek and De Boo offer greatest challenge

As runner-up and number three in this season's final World Cup ranking, Zurek and Jenning de Boo (NED) are the most prominent podium candidates. Zurek finished 13th, one place above Stolz, in the 1000m at the Olympic Games four years ago. 

Damian Zurek (POL, left) and Jenning de Boo (NED, right) finished second and third to Stolz in this season's 1000m World Cup ranking © ISU

De Boo makes his Olympic debut in Milan and is leaning on experienced team-mate Nuis to take his mind off the pressure of the occasion.

"This [skating at the Olympic Games] is such a big moment in your life. I always withdraw a little at these moments, and he manages to keep it loose, joking around. I'm glad he does that," said the Dutchman. 

The draw

Like the women's 1000m, the men's draw makes for an exciting build-up of tension. Beijing 2022 Olympic silver medalist Laurent Dubreuil (CAN) is the man to watch before the halftime ice-cleaning break when he skates in the fifth of 15 pairings versus home favorite Daniele Di Stefano (ITA).

Nuis will step on the ice versus Taiyo Nonomura (JPN) in the second pair after the break, followed by World Champion Joep Wennemars (NED) against Lian Ziwen (CHN) in the 11th pairing.

The 2024 World Sprint Champion Ning Zhongyan (CHN) takes on Conor Mcdermott-Mostowy (USA) in the 12th pair, while triple Youth Olympic Champion Finn Sonnekalb (GER) meets Cooper McLeod (USA) in the 13th.

Stolz faces De Boo in the penultimate pairing, while Zurek takes on Marten Liiv (EST) in the final heat.

The numbers

• World Record: 1:05.37, Jordan Stolz (USA), Salt Lake City 26 January 2024
• Olympic Record: 1:07.18 Gerard van Velde (NED), Salt Lake City 16 February 2002
• Track record: 1:10.87 Kayo Vos (NED), Milan 29 November 2025
• Number of skaters competing: 30
• Number of delegations represented:15
• Competition starts at 18:30 on Wednesday, 11 February at Milano Speed Skating Stadium