Jordan Stolz's goal of 5 gold medals highlights speed skating at Milano-Cortina Olympics

International speed skaters you’ll hear about during Milano-Cortina 2026

Jordan Stolz (United States) 

Could the 21-year-old American phenom replicate what Eric Heiden did 46 years ago at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics and win five gold medals? It is certainly a possibility. Over the last Olympic cycle, Stolz has dominated the 500m, 1,000 and 1,500, winning the world title in those three distances two years in a row. He likely would've made it three straight last year in Hamar, Norway, had it not been for pneumonia (he still landed on the podium in each of those events). While there is more competition in the 500, Stolz remains undefeated in the World Cup this season in the 1,000m and 1,500m. He also won and finished third in mass start races this year, and there is speculation he could skate the preliminary round with the American juggernaut team pursuit squad, which would qualify him for another medal should the U.S. win gold as projected.

Martina Sablikova (Czechia) 

What a story. It’ll be a full circle for Sablikova as she enters her sixth Olympic Games. Turin 2006 was her first Games and these ones will be her final appearance. She has seven Olympic medals and 27 medals from the world single distance championships, including 16 gold. Even in the twilight of her career, never count her out.   

Metoděj Jílek (Czechia) 

In his senior level debut at last year’s world championships at age 18, Jílek took the bronze in the 10,000 metres in Hamar and finished a respectable fifth in the 5,000. Now a year older, Jílek led the World Cup long distance standings, including a phenomenal performance in the 10K at the Heerenveen World Cup stop, setting a track record at Tialf. Oh, and he also races in the mass start, winning