Jordan Stolz had a medal-filled 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, winning two golds and a silver before the final mass start race. Expectations were high, and Stolz found himself weighing when to chase the leaders in the 16-lap event.
Dutch skater Jorrit Bergsma and Denmark’s Viktor Hald Thorup broke away early and maintained their lead, leaving Stolz and the rest of the pack to fight for bronze. In the final meters, Stolz was passed and finished fourth, missing the podium by just 0.09 seconds to Italy’s Andrea Giovannini.
“It was kind of depressing,” Stolz admitted, reflecting on the group strategy that didn’t work. “Everybody was waiting for someone else to make a move. If I went too early, I wouldn’t have had the energy to sprint at the end.”
Mass start is not Stolz’s usual event, and he had limited experience before the Games. Still, he was proud of his overall performance. “You have to expect the unexpected,” he said. “I could have planned a little better, but overall it was a successful Olympics.”
Stolz leaves Milan celebrated for his achievements, with lessons learned and a hunger for more.
