Ning upsets USA's Jordan Stolz for speed skating Olympic gold in 1500

Feb. 19 (UPI) -- China's Zhongyan Ning upset American Jordan Stolz with an Olympic-record 1:41.98 in the men's speed skating 1,500-meter final Thursday in Milan.

With the victory, Ning not only captured his first Olympic gold medal, he also denied Stolz of going 3 for 3 in attempted victories at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Stolz previously won the 1,000-meter and 500-meter races at Milan-Cortina.

Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands, who won gold in the event at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics, placed third at 1:42.82. South Korean Kim Min-seok, the bronze medalist in 2018 and 2022, placed seventh.

Ning clocked a 22.99 on her first lap Thursday at Milano Speed Skating Stadium. He produced a 24.87 on his second and 25.94 on his third. He finished the race with a 28.18 final lap.

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Stolz, who trailed by more than a second after three laps, clocked a 27.60 on his final attempt, but finished 0.77 behind Ning to earn silver.

American Casey Dawson finished 29th out of the 30-man field with a time of 1:47.88.

Stolz, the world record holder in the 1,000-meter distance, will compete in the mass start for his final event at the 2026 Winter Olympics. That race will be held Saturday in Milan.

With a win, he could become just the second American to win three gold medals in a single Winter Olympics, joining Eric Heiden, who won five in 1980.

The women's 1,500-meter final will be held at 10:30 a.m. EST Friday in Milan.

Winning moments from the 2026 Winter Olympics

Team USA's Elana Meyers Taylor celebrates with the American flag after winning the gold medal in the women's monobob competition during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina, Italy, on February 16, 2026. Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo