19-year-old American Jordan Stoltz continues to rewrite speed skating history, setting his first world record.
Stolz ran the 1,000 meters in 1:05.37 at the 2002 World Cup at the Utah Olympic Oval outside Salt Lake City.
He broke the previous record of 1:05.69, set at the same venue by Russia's Pavel Kulizhnikov in February 2020. Most speed skating world records are set at Utah venues, where the air is thin and high.
“I didn't expect that to happen.” Stolz told Dutch broadcaster NOS.. “On the last lap, I was so strong and praying the whole time.”
Stolz is the first American to break a world record in an individual speed skating event since Brittany Bowe broke the world record in the women's 1,000 meters in March 2019, also in Utah.
The last American athlete to break an individual world record was Shani Davis in the 1,500 meters, also in Utah, in December 2009.
Last Sunday, Stolz skated 1:06.27 at the Four Continents Championships in Utah, breaking the American 1,000-meter record and taking the record from Davis.
Stolz had already broken the American record in the 500 meters in each of the past two seasons.
In October this year, he skied 1,500 meters above sea level in the world's second fastest time ever. The overall 1500m personal best time of 1:42.26 was shared by Davis (1:41.04), Joey Mantia (1:41.15), Chad Hedrick (1:42.14) and Brian Hansen. (1 minute 4 seconds), which ranks him fifth in American history in the same event. 42.16).
Last season, Stolz became the youngest skater to win a world title, winning the 500m, 1000m and 1500m, becoming the first athlete to win three individual gold medals at a single world championship.
This weekend's World Cup in Utah continues through Sunday, with Stolz scheduled to skate the 500 meters, 1,500 meters and then the 1,000 meters. peacock Broadcast live broadcast.