Jordan Stolz, a 19-year-old American, broke his first world record as he continues to rewrite speed skating history.
Stolz clocked 1 minute, 5.37 seconds in the 1000m at a World Cup at the 2002 Utah Olympic Oval outside Salt Lake City on Friday.
He lowered the previous record of 1:05.69 set by Russian Pavel Kulizhnikov at the same venue in February 2020. Most world records in speed skating are set at the Utah venue due to its altitude and thin air.
“I didn’t expect that to happen,” Stolz told Dutch broadcaster NOS. “In that last lap, man, I was so strong and just praying the whole time.”
Stolz became the first American to break a world record in an individual speed skating event since Brittany Bowe did so in the women’s 1000m in March 2019, also in Utah.
The last U.S. man to break an individual world record was Shani Davis in the 1500m in December 2009, also in Utah.
Stolz is having an historic weekend. He followed Friday’s world record by breaking the American records in the 500m and the 1500m on Saturday.
In the 1500m, he clocked 1:40.87, the third-fastest time in history behind Dutchmen Kjeld Nuis (1:40.17) and Thomas Krol (1:40.54). He broke the American record of 1:41.04 set by Davis in 2009.
In the 500m, he skated 33.96, taking 12 hundredths off his own American record and missing the world record by 35 hundredths. Stolz has lowered the American record in the 500m in three consecutive seasons.
Last season, Stolz became the youngest skater to win a world title and the first man to win three individual golds at a single world championships, sweeping the 500m, 1000m and 1500m.
Also Saturday, the U.S. men’s team pursuit broke the world record, regaining it after Norway snatched it at the European Championships three weeks ago. The U.S. team was Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman and Ethan Cepuran, and they skated 3:33.66.
Olympic gold medalist Erin Jackson and Kimi Goetz gave the U.S. a one-two in the 500m. Jackson won in 36.90, a tenth off her American record. She has won four of the eight World Cup 500m races this season.
This weekend’s World Cup in Utah finishes Sunday with Stolz scheduled to race another 1000m. Peacock airs live coverage.