Winter Olympic 2026: Jordan Stolz has now made it official: he is headed to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. The American speed skating sensation secured his place on the U.S. Olympic team with a dominant victory in the 1,000 meters on Friday, Nov. 21, at the World Cup event in Calgary, Alberta. Stolz crossed the line in 1:06.0, finishing just 0.63 seconds shy of the world record he already holds.
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Thanks to his strong performance at the world championships in March—where he earned silver medals in the 500 and 1,500 meters and a bronze in the 1,000—Stolz had the opportunity to qualify early for the Olympic team. Under the updated U.S. Speed Skating selection process, any world championship medalist can book a spot by placing in the top five in the same event.
Stolz quickly put himself in position by sweeping the 500, 1,000, and 1,500 meters at the opening World Cup in Salt Lake City the previous weekend. That sweep meant he needed just one more top-five finish, in any of those distances, to officially punch his ticket to Milano Cortina. While Stolz has now secured his Olympic berth, he still must qualify individually to race the 500 and 1,500 meters in Italy.
Milano Cortina 2026: Stolz Stays Calm Ahead of Olympic 2026 Qualification Races
He is scheduled to compete in both distances on Saturday, Nov. 22, with another 500-meter event set for Sunday, Nov. 23. Despite the pressure surrounding Olympic qualification, Stolz has made it clear that he doesn’t overthink the process. After winning the 1,000 meters in Salt Lake City, he explained that he focuses mainly on how he feels physically and works to make each race smoother and more controlled.
For him, the goal is continual improvement rather than dwelling on standings or expectations. Even before officially locking in his 2026 Olympic spot, most people expected Stolz to be part of the team. His dominance in recent years has made him one of the brightest young stars in speed skating.
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He swept all three sprint distances at the world championships in both 2023 and 2024 and ended last season as the overall champion in the 500, 1,000, and 1,500 meters. With results like those, his qualification for the Games seemed inevitable. Still, securing his place early brings its own comfort.
Olympic 2026: New Qualification Rules Give Elite Skaters a Clearer Path to the Winter Olympics
Instead of waiting until the U.S. Olympic trials—which take place Jan. 2–5 in Milwaukee—he no longer has to worry about unexpected setbacks or the kind of surprises that can derail even the best athletes. A perfect example of how unpredictable trials can be, coming just four years ago. Erin Jackson entered the 2022 Olympic trials as the world’s top skater in the 500 meters.
But a slip during her race led to a third-place finish and left her off the team—at least temporarily. Brittany Bowe, who won the race, chose to give up her spot so Jackson could compete instead. Jackson made the most of that opportunity, winning the gold medal in the 500 meters at the Beijing Olympics. That dramatic moment reshaped U.S. Speed Skating’s approach to Olympic qualification.
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In response, the federation updated its procedures to make the path to the Olympics more secure for proven top performers. Now, in addition to world championship medalists being able to qualify early with two top-five World Cup finishes, any skater who reaches the podium in the same event at two World Cups automatically earns a place on the Winter Olympic 2026 team.
Olympic Speed Skating: Stolz Enters Final Training Phase for Milano Cortina 2026
This change was designed to reward consistency at the highest level and reduce the chances of elite athletes missing out because of a single mistake at trials. Brittany Bowe, reflecting on the new system during the Salt Lake City event, expressed her support. She noted that skaters who hit those international benchmarks deserve to feel confident about their Olympic prospects.
According to her, the updated process brings a sense of stability for athletes who consistently perform well on the world stage. That peace of mind makes a big difference heading into the intense pressure of the trials. With his early qualification secured, Stolz can now focus on fine-tuning his form in the weeks ahead and preparing to take on the world at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
His rapid rise, unmatched consistency, and strong international results have already made him one of the most compelling athletes to watch leading into the Games. As he continues to develop and compete, the anticipation surrounding his Olympic performance will only continue to grow.
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