U.S. speed skating star Jordan Stolz lowers Olympic mark in 1,000m gold-medal performance

Jordan Stolz pictured this moment most of his life, ever since he was five years old, learning to skate on a frozen pond in his Wisconsin backyard after falling in love with speedskating during the 2010 Winter Olympics, and hoping to one day step atop the podium himself.

So what was the little hassle of a 10-or-so-minute wait to make sure this first speed skating gold medal would be his Wednesday?

Stolz needed to hold off on celebrating until another competitor got the chance for a re-skate, then soon enough was able to smile while leaning forward to receive his gold for winning the men's 1,000 metres at the Milan-Cortina Games in an Olympic-record one minute 6.28 seconds.

He beat Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands, who clocked 1:06.78, while Zhongyan Ning of China took bronze in 1:07.34. Teammates David La Rue and Anders Johnson were 18th (1:09.310) and 22nd (1:09.54) among 27 finishers.

Canadian speed skater Laurent Dubreuil, seeking a second consecutive Winter Games medal in the men's 1,000 after capturing silver in Beijing four years ago, placed eighth (1:08.21). Teammates David La Rue and Anders Johnson were 18th (1:09.310) and 22nd (1:09.54) among 27 finishers.

Stolz’s medal is the first of any colour in the event for the United States since Shani Davis, a mentor to the 21-year-old, won his second straight 1,000m gold at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

American Jordan Stolz earns his 1st Olympic gold medal with an Olympic record time

Stolz, a native of Kewaskum, Wis., who was 14th in the 1,000m final in Beijing, boasts the world mark of 1:05.37. He won all five races this season on the World Cup circuit.

In the 1,000, he owns two world titles, two World Cup titles and the junior world record.

Wednesday was the