MILAN, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- With the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games just days away, American speed skating sensation Jordan Stolz has hit a "planned peak" after years of preparation and a final series of training sessions this week.
Despite a dominant World Cup season where he captured 16 victories and 20 medals across 500m, 1000m, 1500m and mass start, the 21-year-old remained modest on the goals for his second Olympics.
"I'm trying to win something," Stolz said with a shrug.
After three training sessions in Milan, Stolz told Xinhua that he felt good about the temporary rink in the Milano Speed Skating Stadium. "I think the ice quality is good. It's a good track."
Four years ago, Stolz made his Olympic debut at Beijing 2022, but left without a medal. He will vie in four events this time: 500m, 1000m, 1500m and mass start.
Stolz credited his ability to dominate sprints and endurance races to his training. "I've done a lot of training over the summer that I was able to build my endurance and my sprint," he said. "And over the winter, it just gradually progresses... and I become faster near the end."
One of the key elements contributing to Stolz's rise is his partnership with Bob Corby in 2018. The legendary coach guided American speed skater Eric Heiden to five gold medals at the 1980 Lake Placid Games.
Corby revealed that Stolz's current form is the result of a "planned peak" six years in the making.
"I have in my book exactly what we did day by day for the 30 days leading up to the World Championships and the World Allround Championships. So we know exactly what was done before and what was right, and everything is going to plan right now," Corby said, noting that Stolz is clocking times in sea-level training intervals that match his best performances at high-altitude rinks.
Although Stolz had raced in team pursuit, Corby revealed that the skater will likely skip the event in Milan to prioritize his individual events.
"I think it's very unlikely that he would [skate the team pursuit]," Corby said, adding that the American men's team pursuit trio are in good shape.
He identified the 500m as the toughest test for Stolz. "There are a bunch of guys that are close," said Corby, citing rivals like Poland's Damian Zurek and Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands. "They're so clustered, and some of them are better at their opening 100 meters than he [Stolz] is. So, he has to catch them in the lap."
With the competition set to begin on February 7, Stolz appears ready to let his skating do the talking. "I feel good," he said. "We'll see how it goes when I race."
