November 18, 2024 – Kewaskum, WI – A successful Four Continents Championship in Japan for speed skater Jordan Stolz who set new track records and won gold in all four races.
Racing at Hachinohe City, Stolz took first place and set a new track record in the 500-meter race. According to ISU, “World Champion stopped the clock at 34.47s, just 0.04s off the track record set by Tatsuya Shinhama (JPN) in 2021.”
A phenomenal start for Stolz who, according to the International Skating Union, fought through jet lag, and knocked down the 1500m “YS Arena track record of 1:45.57, set by Kazuya Yamada (JPN) in 2022, by more than a second in one minute and 44.45s.”
According to the ISU: “I felt pretty good,” Stolz said. “I don’t know how much [the jet lag] affected me, but I would guess it’s a little bit substantial, since I’ve only been on ice for two days. But I felt pretty good, except, I don’t know if it was the jet lag, but something was making me feel a little light-headed after the race. So it hurt pretty bad.”
Despite the short time to adapt and familiarize with the YS Arena, Stolz had a glance at the track record before he started on Friday.
“I think it was like a 1:45 or something… I had calculated some times earlier, and I thought I would go around the 1:44.7, so I went a little bit faster.”
After having won three World Single Distance titles for the second year in a row and adding the World Allround title in Inzell last year, Stolz is looking for new challenges this season.
“I would like to do well in the overall point system at the end of the World Cup and see what I can do in that, although it’s not as prestigious [as the World Allround title].”
Stolz said he didn’t want to skip any World Cup events like last year: “This year should be different, and hopefully I can also defend my three titles at the end of the year to keep a good lead into the Olympics [in 2026].”
Stolz also won gold in the 1500m and Team Pursuit events. Stolz did not appear in the Team Pursuit ceremony because he had little time before the 1000m race.
The 1000-meter ceremony. Stolz set a new track record (1:08.04) and claimed his fourth gold medal at the Four Continents Championships.
Coach Bob Corby said all the hard work is paying off for Jordan Stolz. “He is continuing to do the hard training,” said Corby. “After racing and winning two races yesterday we went to the weight room and lifted because today is a travel day. He wasn’t alone – there were 7 American skaters there too! But that is what you have to do.
“Yes it is the changes to an adult body and the training that is leading to his success. You have to though. The whole skating world is after him!”
Stolz will next compete in the first World Cup in Nagano, Japan, Nov. 22-24.
Be sure to get your tickets for the 2025 ISU World Cup at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee held January 31 to February 2, 2025.
Click HERE to get your 2025 ISU World Cup tickets today
Photos courtesy coach Bob Corby. Stats and photos courtesy International Skating Union
