MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin — In the Netherlands, speedskating is a beloved sport, even getting Jordan Stolz out of a parking fine. However, in his home country, it doesn’t attract the same attention.

“It’s not like people are crowding around him at Pick ‘n Save,” joked Stolz’s coach, Bob Corby.

That might change in a year.

At just 20, Stolz has consistently dominated, claiming three victories at both of the past two single-distance world championships and earning the title of youngest allround champion since Eric Heiden. He recently ended his remarkable World Cup winning streak at 22 races with a second-place finish in the 500 meters, a record for male speedskaters.

If he maintains this trajectory, Stolz is set to join the ranks of prominent athletes like Mikaela Shiffrin and Ilia Malinin at the Milan Cortina Olympics, which will take place from February 6-22, 2026, in Northern Italy.

“I believe I can manage it,” Stolz shared last week. “If I can manage the training and the skating, then the attention shouldn’t be too overwhelming.”

Stolz first fell in love with speedskating during the 2010 Olympics and began practicing on a pond in his family’s yard. He hails from Kewaskum, located just outside Milwaukee, where the Pettit National Ice Center is situated. His parents began driving him 45 minutes to the center so he could train.

Corby, who has a wealth of experience in speedskating and has coached Olympic legends Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen, met Stolz initially as a physical therapist. After Stolz’s previous coach passed away unexpectedly, he reached out to Corby for full-time coaching.

Stolz was only 14 back then.

“You could tell he was talented. I thought, ‘Wow, this kid has great natural technique and is willing to push himself during training,’” Corby recalled.

However, Stolz lacked experience; he had never lifted weights and relied solely on biking during warmer months.

“I told him, ‘I’ll create a solid training program for you.’ Once he began weight training and followed a structured program, he really took off. That’s when I realized, ‘Wow, he’s going to be exceptional.’”

Others recognized his talent as well.

“Foreign coaches were saying, ‘Don’t tell anyone, but I always watch his races,’” Corby noted. “It was clear he was gifted.”

At just 16, Stolz claimed his first senior title in the 500 meters at the 2021 U.S. championships. The next year, he earned his first medal in a senior World Cup, finishing second in the 1,000 meters and qualifying for the Beijing Olympics, where he placed 13^th in the 500 meters and 14^th in the 1,000 meters.

After that, he soared in his career.

His 1,500-meter win during the first World Cup of the 2022-23 season made him the youngest man to achieve an individual World Cup race victory. At another World Cup the following month, he took home medals in all three events, winning gold in the 1,000 meters and silver in the 500 and 1,500 meters.

He swept the 500, 1,000, and 1,500 meters at the World Junior Speed Skating Championships, then replicated this feat as a senior at the World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships, making him the youngest world champion ever.

He defended all three titles at last year’s single-distance worlds and claimed the world allround title, which tests athletes across various distances.

“I’ve been outperformed by a phenomenon,” said three-time allround champion Patrick Roest from the Netherlands after finishing second to Stolz.

This season, Stolz has been almost invincible, winning his first six 500-meter races and his first four races in the 1,000 and 1,500 meters. (Some World Cups feature two 500-meter races.)

Even his recent second-place finish was just 0.05 seconds behind the winner, following three consecutive race victories over the prior days.

“For many athletes, that level of success can be overwhelming,” Corby explained. “But he doesn’t appear to let it phase him too much. I critique him enough to keep him grounded.

“You must stay humble. This journey is tough. If you want to keep winning over the years, humility is crucial for ongoing training,” Corby added.

Simultaneously, Stolz is aware of the forthcoming attention. He recently signed with Octagon and Janey Miller, the same agent representing Simone Biles and Apolo Anton Ohno.

“Hopefully, I can attract some good sponsors as we approach the Olympics,” Stolz joked. “I’m confident I won’t let them down.”

While achieving Olympic fame could significantly change Stolz’s life—he still lives with his family and trains locally—it could also elevate the profile of speedskating.

Speedskating, like numerous Olympic sports, often goes unnoticed in the U.S. except for brief moments every four years. However, if Stolz secures multiple medals and garners media attention, it may inspire a new generation to take up the sport.

The impact Stolz had at last week’s World Cup held at the Pettit Center is evidence of this potential.

Milwaukee has a longstanding tradition in speedskating, but this was the first World Cup in nearly 20 years, and it was awarded to the city partly because of Stolz’s influence. Packed crowds cheered loudly throughout the event when he warmed up, raced, and completed his cool-down laps.

After the races, fans filled the Pettit Center lobby to congratulate him and take photos.

As Stolz took selfies with fans, two-time Olympic champion Shani Davis watched nearby. Having known Stolz since he was young—he often trained at the Pettit Center—Davis feels a close bond with him.

“He feels like my little brother,” Davis expressed.

Davis understands firsthand the kind of attention and pressure Stolz will experience as he approaches next year’s Games.

An outstanding athlete himself, Davis won his first world title at age 21. By the time he reached the Turin Olympics, he had already secured an allround title and was seen as one of the star competitors for Team USA. He won gold in the 1,000 meters and silver in the 1,500 meters in Turin, repeating this success in Vancouver.

“It’s thrilling and precisely what this sport needs. We require a young, American champion who is leading the way,” Davis commented on the potential impact of Stolz.

“I believe it’s just going to explode,” Davis added. “As we draw nearer to the Olympics, attention will only increase.”

Stay updated with News Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.