Jordan Stolz joins Eric Heiden in Winter Olympic history

MILAN — Jordan Stolz is now a two-time Olympic gold medalist in speed skating – halfway to his goal of four in the Milan Cortina Games — after winning the 500 meters on Saturday to join him victory in the 1,000.

Stolz, a 21-year-old from Wisconsin, is only the second man to complete the 500-1,000 double at one Olympic Games. He joins Eric Heiden, the American who did it as part of his record-breaking win in all five men’s individual skating events at the 1980 Lake Placid Games.

Stolz finished the 500 in an Olympic record time of 33.77 seconds, after also setting an Olympic milestone with his victory in the 1,000 on Wednesday. Both times the silver went to Jenning de Boo from the Netherlands, who clocked 33.88 in the shortest skating event. Both times they rode against each other in the same heat.

Stolz led coming out of the last corner on Wednesday, then even going into the final stretch. But Stolz, who overcame a deficit in the 1,000, picked up the pace and crossed the line first again in the 500. The Boo slipped and then fell against the wall as Stolz skated by and shook his right fist above his head.

Canadian Laurent Dubreuil took the bronze in 34.26.

The last American to win Olympic gold in the men’s 500 was Casey FitzRandolph in 2002.

Widely regarded as the best in the world at his sport at the moment, Stolz has so far lived up to the excessive expectations and associated pressure that comes with every step on the ice at the Milano Speed ​​Skating Stadium, a temporary facility created for this event.

Two races, two golds, two Olympic records.

Now there are two more to go: the 1,500 meters on Thursday and the mass start on February 21.

The last man with three gold medals in speed skating at a Winter Games was Norwegian Johann Olav Koss, who won the 1,500, 5,000 and 10,000 at the 1994 Lillehammer Games.

Stolz took to the ice Saturday about 2 1/2 hours before his race to warm up. He paused at one point to sit on the low boards along the ice, strapping on his black and green skates and smiling as he chatted with his coach, Bob Corby.

No trace of nerves. None at all.