SPEED SKATING

Will Stolz complete Olympic hat-trick in King's Race?

18 Feb 2026

For more information about Speed Skating in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, please check here.

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Is Jordan Stolz (USA) going to complete a hat-trick at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026? After winning the 1000m and the 500m already, the American takes on the 1500m on Thursday. Stolz already took the triple at two consecutive World Championships in 2023 and 2024.

Out of sight

Defending champion Kjeld Nuis (NED) thinks that Stolz is out of sight. "No doubt," he responded on the day before the race.

The battle for silver is going to be chaotic, however. Counting himself among the contenders, Nuis named Ning Zhongyan (CHN), Joep Wennemars (NED), Peder Kongshaug (NOR), Sander Eitrem (NOR), Metoděj Jílek (CZE), Vladimir Semirunniy (POL) and Finn Sonnekalb (GER) as possible runners-up.

Defending champion Kjeld Nuis (NED) is targeting a medal on Thursday in Milan © Getty Images

Stolz, who will also skate the Mass Start on Saturday, is confident going into Thursday's 1500m.

After his 500m gold, the American said: "I am really happy so far to win two (gold medals). I think if I have a good 1500m, it should turn out well. I am hoping for gold in that.

"The mass start is just kind of a toss-up. It is more like a bonus. It is so hard to say what is going to happen in that, but I would love to win the 1500m."

King's Race

The 1500m is often labeled the King's Race in Long Track Speed Skating. To win, a skater needs the perfect blend of sprint speed and endurance stamina. Three of the favorites Nuis mentioned have a sprint background: Ning, Wennemars and Sonnekalb.

Ning Zhongyan (CHN) will take on Kjeld Nuis in the 13th of 15th pairings © Getty Images

Kongshaug, Eitrem, Jílek and Semirunniy approach the distance from the endurance perspective, while Nuis himself comes from the sprint side.

These different approaches can lead to interesting match-ups. Sprint-type skaters typically start almost flat-out and hope for the best in an agonizing final lap, while the endurance-type skaters build up their speed to try and win time in the second part of the race.

For an endurance-type skater, facing a sprint-type opponent can be an advantage. While the sprinter will spearhead the race, the endurance skater can use him as a target when the sprinter implodes in the final lap.

The Draw

Coming from the sprint side, Nuis prefers to skate against an opponent with a similar approach. Asked what his favorite matchup would be before the draw, he said:

"Starting outside against Ning Zhongyan (CHN) would be great. He's f****** good. He starts very fast, we have a similar way of skating, and (starting outside) would give me two backstretches to chase him."

Nuis got exactly what he wanted. The 2024 and 2018 champion starts in the outer lane versus Ning in the 13^th of 15 pairings.

Vladimir Semirunniy (POL) will take on Casey Dawson (USA) on Thursday © Getty Images

Semirunniy meets a fellow endurance man, skating versus Casey Dawson (USA) in the sixth pairing. Jílek takes on sprint-type Hendrik Dombek (GER) in pair seven.

Wennemars, who wants to make amends after he was blocked by Lian Ziwen (CHN) in the 1000m, meets home skater Daniele Di Stefano (ITA) in pair 11.

Sonnekalb meets Eitrem in the 14^th pairing, while Stolz and Kongshaug face each other in the 15^th and last pair.

The Numbers: Men’s 1500m