Jordan Stolz Bio, Age, Height, Family, Career, Salary, Net Worth & More

Jordan Stolz has emerged as the most dominant force in American speed skating since Eric Heiden, transforming from a small-town Wisconsin kid skating on his family’s backyard pond into a world-record-breaking Olympic champion. At just 21 years old, this long track speed skating phenom has already captured multiple World Championship titles, set world records in the 1000 meters, and claimed Olympic gold at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games. With his unparalleled versatility across sprint distances and a historic 18-race World Cup winning streak, Stolz is poised to become the face of American winter sports for years to come.

Quick bio

Early Life & Education

Jordan Stolz was born on May 21, 2004, in West Bend, Wisconsin, to Dirk Stolz, a police officer of German descent who immigrated to the United States at age 9, and Jane Stolz, a dental hygienist. Growing up in the rural community of Kewaskum, approximately 50 minutes northwest of Milwaukee, Jordan’s childhood was defined by outdoor adventure rather than screen time.

The spark that ignited Jordan’s skating career came during the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. At just five years old, he watched Apolo Anton Ohno and Shani Davis compete on television—a rare exception in a household where TV was typically forbidden. Captivated by the speed and excitement, Jordan and his older sister Hannah begged their parents to let them try the sport.

Dirk cleared a speed skating oval on the frozen pond behind their home, installing floodlights so the children could practice at all hours. Jane initially insisted the children wear life jackets until Dirk drilled through the ice to prove it was several feet thick. Jordan began skating at age 5, and by age 9, his prodigious talent was undeniable. His parents made the difficult decision to homeschool him, allowing more time for training at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee.

Jordan attended Kewaskum High School while continuing his homeschooling arrangement to accommodate his rigorous training schedule. His early dedication paid dividends when, at age 14, he convinced legendary coach Bob Corby—who had trained Eric Heiden—to come out of retirement after 20 years to coach him following the death of his previous coach, Bob Fenn.

Career Journey

Early Career and Olympic Debut (2020–2022)

Jordan’s ascent in the speed skating world was meteoric. During the 2021-22 season, the then-17-year-old made his senior international debut, competing in his first World Cup and setting two junior world records each in the 500m and 1000m. He won his first senior international medal—a silver in the 1000m—before exploding onto the national scene at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials.

At the trials, Stolz won both the 500m and 1000m in track-record times that shattered marks held by American great Shani Davis for 16 years. This performance earned him a spot on his first Olympic roster, making him only the third U.S.-born skater to compete at his maiden Games at age 17.

At the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Jordan finished 13th in the 500m and 14th in the 1000m—respectable results for a teenager, but far from the podium finishes he would soon achieve.

World Championship Dominance (2022–2024)

The 2022-23 season marked Jordan’s transformation from promising teenager to global superstar. He became the youngest man to win an individual World Cup race, then skated to gold in four events at the 2023 World Junior Championships. Later that season, at the 2023 World Single Distances Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands, Jordan made history by becoming:

• The youngest single-distance world champion ever (500m)
• The first man to win three individual gold medals at a single World Single Distances Championships (500m, 1000m, 1500m)

He repeated this unprecedented triple-gold sweep at the 2024 World Single Distances Championships in Calgary, then added the World Allround Championship title in Inzell, Germany—becoming the youngest male World Allround champion since Eric Heiden in 1978 and only the third American man to achieve this feat alongside Heiden and Shani Davis.

Record-Breaking Streak and Setbacks (2024–2025)

From February 2024 to February 2025, Jordan achieved an unprecedented 18 consecutive World Cup victories across three distances, breaking the previous record held by Dutch legend Sven Kramer. During this streak, he:

• Set the world record in the 1000m (1:05.37) in Salt Lake City
• Set the sea-level world record in the 1000m (1:06.16) in Milwaukee
• Became the first skater to break 34 seconds in the 500m at sea level (33.91)
• Won World Cup overall titles in the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m

However, his historic streak ended in February 2025 when he finished second to Japan’s Tatsuya Shinhama by just 0.05 seconds. Shortly after, Jordan was diagnosed with pneumonia and strep throat, forcing him to miss nearly two weeks of training. Despite the illness, he won three races at World Cup #5 in Poland, but his form was visibly affected at the 2025 World Championships in Hamar, Norway, where he earned silver in the 500m and 1500m and bronze in the 1000m—his first world championship medals that weren’t gold.

Olympic Glory (2025–2026)

Jordan entered the 2025-26 season determined to peak at the right time. He won 16 races and 20 medals across five World Cup stops, securing World Cup titles in all three sprint distances for the second consecutive season. He set three track records at Thialf in the Netherlands and three more at Vikingskipet in Norway.

At the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Jordan delivered on his potential. On February 11, 2026, he won his first Olympic gold medal in the 1000m with an Olympic record time of 1:06.28—the first American man to win Olympic speed skating gold since 2010. Three days later, he captured his second gold in the 500m with another Olympic record (33.77), becoming the first American since Eric Heiden in 1980 to win multiple individual gold medals at a single Winter Olympics.

Personal Life

Despite his global fame, Jordan remains deeply connected to his Wisconsin roots and family values. He is the son of Dirk and Jane Stolz, who adjusted their work schedules—Jane working days as a dental hygienist and Dirk working nights with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department—to ensure one parent was always available to support his training.

Jordan’s older sister, Hannah Stolz, also skated competitively until age 16 before pursuing a unique career in bird taxidermy. She now runs Windy Hills Waterfowl, housing 85 bird species, and won the National Taxidermy Championships in 2023 while placing third in the world at the 2024 World Taxidermy Championships. The Stolz family also operates a side taxidermy business to help cover Jordan’s training and travel expenses.

Off the ice, Jordan is an avid outdoorsman. The family travels to Alaska each summer for extended camping trips where they fish for halibut and salmon and hunt moose. These wilderness adventures serve as both physical conditioning and mental refreshment. Jordan also cycles up to 18 hours per week during the offseason to build endurance and enjoys hiking and hunting.

A devout born-again Christian, Jordan credits his faith for keeping him grounded amid his rapid rise to stardom. His mother Jane often reminds him that “God gave them a gift, fast feet, better use it appropriately.”

Jordan maintains a relatively low-profile personal life and is currently single, focusing entirely on his athletic career.

Awards & Achievements

Olympic Games

• 2026 Milano Cortina: Gold medal, 1000m (Olympic record)
• 2026 Milano Cortina: Gold medal, 500m (Olympic record)

World Championships

• 2023 Heerenveen: Gold – 500m, 1000m, 1500m (World Single Distances)
• 2024 Calgary: Gold – 500m, 1000m, 1500m (World Single Distances)
• 2024 Inzell: Gold – Allround (World Allround Champion)
• 2025 Hamar: Silver – 500m, 1500m; Bronze – 1000m (World Single Distances)

World Junior Championships

• 2023 Inzell: Gold – 500m, 1000m, 1500m, Team Sprint, Overall; Bronze – 5000m, Mass Start

Four Continents Championships

• 2025 Hachinohe: Gold – 500m, 1000m, 1500m, Team Pursuit
• 2024 Salt Lake City: Gold – 1000m

World Cup Achievements

• 43 World Cup medals (31 gold)
• 18 consecutive World Cup wins (February 2024–February 2025)
• World Cup Overall Champion: 500m, 1000m, 1500m (2024-25, 2025-26)

World Records

• 1000m: 1:05.37 (January 26, 2024, Salt Lake City)
• Big Combination: 144.740 points (March 9-10, 2024, Inzell)
• Sea-level 1000m: 1:06.16 (January 2025, Milwaukee)

Junior World Records

• 500m, 1000m, 1500m, Mini Combination

Physical Statistics

Jordan’s physical development has been remarkable. The “73-pound waif” who once landed a massive halibut in Alaska has transformed into a 6-foot-1, 183-pound elite athlete. His body structure—particularly his lower body strength and aerodynamic positioning—is considered ideal for sprint distance speed skating. As Shani Davis noted, “One of his biggest assets is his (body) structure. He is the right height, he’s a great build.”

Quotes

“Walk into a Piggly Wiggly, nobody knows who you are.” — On his relative anonymity in the United States versus his fame in Europe, TIME interview, 2026

“I thought I was feeling good in the beginning, and then Jenning just came by me and I thought wow, maybe he’s good enough to win the gold and then I’ll be getting second. And then in that second-to-last turn, I was like, no, I can’t let this happen. So I threw two arms down, and I just went as hard as I possibly could, and I made it.” — After winning Olympic gold in the 1000m, NBC interview, February 2026

“I like the feeling of being the hunted one, it keeps me motivated.” — On maintaining his competitive edge, CBC interview, 2025

“The work is done. I just have to maintain and do what I’ve been doing. So I don’t see how it could go downhill or wrong. I’m not saying some guys can’t get better. But as long as I stay healthy, I’m pretty confident I can do the same race as I’ve been doing.” — On his Olympic preparation, TIME interview, 2026

Controversies

Jordan Stolz has maintained a remarkably clean public image throughout his career, though he has been involved in a few notable competitive controversies:

2026 Olympic 1000m Re-skate Incident

Jordan’s Olympic gold medal in the 1000m at Milano Cortina was delayed by a controversial officiating decision. After Jordan set an Olympic record of 1:06.28, race officials ruled that Dutch skater Joep Wennemars had been illegally cut off by China’s Ziwen Lian during an earlier pairing, granting Wennemars a re-skate opportunity.

This forced Jordan to wait approximately 15 minutes at center ice while Wennemars prepared to race again—a tense delay during which the victory ceremony was halted and celebration music played awkwardly. Wennemars, who had ended Jordan’s two-year world championship status in the 1000m at the 2025 Worlds, ultimately finished fifth in his second attempt.

After the race, Wennemars expressed frustration, stating in Dutch, “I had my medal stolen today,” and telling media, “My Olympic dream has been ripped apart. I am heartbroken.” However, Jordan handled the delay with characteristic composure, later stating, “I didn’t think he would beat my time.”

Rivalry with Dutch Skaters

Jordan has developed a competitive rivalry with several Dutch skaters, particularly Jenning de Boo and Kjeld Nuis. In a 2026 TIME interview, Jordan noted that Nuis “likes to talk a lot about me” in the media, describing him as “up and down” in his treatment of the American phenom. Nuis responded by stating he admires Jordan’s skating and considers him “the man to beat at this moment.”

Jordan has also suggested that Dutch skaters tend to be more arrogant than he is, noting, “I don’t think they have bad feelings towards me, just because I’m not super arrogant like their skaters are.”

Sponsorship Disparities

While not a personal controversy, Jordan’s situation has highlighted significant disparities in athlete compensation. Despite being a world-record holder and seven-time World Champion, Jordan had no major American sponsors as of early 2025, instead competing for the Dutch team Albert Heijn Zaanlander. This situation drew attention to the financial challenges facing American speed skaters compared to athletes in more mainstream sports.

Salary & Net Worth

Jordan Stolz’s financial situation reflects the challenging economics of professional speed skating in the United States. As of 2025-2026, his estimated net worth ranges between $500,000 and $1 million, derived from several sources:

Income Sources

Primary Sponsor: Albert Heijn Zaanlander (Dutch skating team) provides financial support and training resources, though specific salary figures are not publicly disclosed.

US Speedskating Support: As a member of the national team, Jordan receives support including coaching, travel, and equipment, though this is not a traditional salary.

Recent Endorsements: In early 2025, Jordan signed with Octagon sports agency (which represents simone biles and Michael Phelps) and secured a sponsorship with Honda as part of their Olympic athlete program. He also appears in promotional materials for NBC Olympics.

Prize Money: World Cup and World Championship victories provide modest prize money, though these amounts are significantly lower than in sports like tennis or golf.

Financial Context

Jordan’s financial situation has been notably modest compared to his athletic achievements. As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported in January 2025, Jordan’s annual earnings were “significantly, drastically, remarkably less” than other 20-year-old professional athletes like MLB’s Jackson Chourio (8-year, $82 million contract) or NBA draft picks.

Jordan himself has maintained a humble perspective, stating in early 2025, “I’m not broke or anything,” while laughing. His family’s taxidermy business helps supplement his income, and he lives a relatively modest lifestyle focused on training and outdoor activities rather than luxury.

With his Olympic success in 2026 and increased visibility, Jordan’s endorsement potential is expected to grow significantly, potentially increasing his net worth substantially in the coming years.

Interesting Facts

1. Backyard Beginnings: Jordan first learned to speed skate on a frozen pond behind his family’s home in Kewaskum, where his father installed floodlights for nighttime practice sessions.
2. Life Jacket Skating: His mother Jane initially made Jordan and his sister wear life jackets while skating on the pond until his father drilled through the ice to prove it was several feet thick.
3. Legendary Coach: At age 14, Jordan convinced Bob Corby—who coached Eric Heiden to his 1980 Olympic glory—to come out of retirement after 20 years to train him.
4. Sister’s Success: His older sister Hannah is a world-class taxidermist who won the National Taxidermy Championships in 2023 and placed third in the world in 2024.
5. Alaska Adventures: The Stolz family travels to Alaska each summer for fishing and hunting trips, where Jordan once landed a massive halibut as a 73-pound child.
6. Pizza Ritual: Jordan eats pizza every day before training, with favorite restaurants including Jimmy John’s, Texas Roadhouse, and The Fox & Hounds in Hubertus, Wisconsin.
7. Equipment Mastery: He sharpens his own skate blades, using custom Marchese boots and Viking blades for competition.
8. Anonymity at Home: Despite being a global superstar, Jordan can walk into a Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Wisconsin unrecognized, while he receives celebrity treatment on KLM flights in Europe.
9. Strength Training: Jordan can squat 352 pounds, demonstrating the lower body power that drives his explosive speed.
10. Blade Preservation: He saved the blades from his 1000m world record race in 2024 and used them during his Olympic gold medal performance in 2026.
11. Record Books: Jordan is the only man since World War II to pair an Olympic or world 500m title with a world allround title, joining Eric Heiden in this exclusive club.
12. Youth Olympic Alumni: He competed at the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games before making his senior Olympic debut in Beijing 2022.

Social Media Links

Note: Jordan maintains a relatively modest social media presence compared to many modern athletes, reflecting his focus on training and competition over personal branding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How old is Jordan Stolz? A: Jordan Stolz is 21 years old, born on May 21, 2004.

Q: Where is Jordan Stolz from? A: Jordan is from Kewaskum, Wisconsin, a small town about 50 minutes northwest of Milwaukee. He was born in West Bend, Wisconsin.

Q: What distances does Jordan Stolz compete in? A: Jordan specializes in the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m sprint distances, though he also competes in the mass start and team pursuit events.

Q: How many Olympic medals has Jordan Stolz won? A: As of February 2026, Jordan has won two Olympic gold medals at the Milano Cortina Games—in the 1000m and 500m, both with Olympic record times.

Q: Who is Jordan Stolz’s coach? A: Jordan is coached by Bob Corby, a legendary coach who came out of retirement after 20 years to train Jordan. Corby previously coached Eric Heiden to his 1980 Olympic five-gold performance.

Q: What is Jordan Stolz’s world record? A: Jordan holds the world record in the 1000m with a time of 1:05.37, set on January 26, 2024, in Salt Lake City. He also holds the world record for the big combination (144.740 points).

Q: Does Jordan Stolz have any siblings? A: Yes, Jordan has an older sister named Hannah Stolz, who is a champion taxidermist and former speed skater.

Q: What is Jordan Stolz’s net worth? A: Jordan’s estimated net worth is between $500,000 and $1 million as of 2026, though this is expected to increase significantly following his Olympic success.

Q: Why does Jordan Stolz compete for a Dutch team? A: Jordan competes professionally for Albert Heijn Zaanlander, a Dutch skating team, because they provide financial and training support that was not available from American sponsors. Speed skating is extremely popular in the Netherlands, offering better professional opportunities.

Q: How did Jordan Stolz start speed skating? A: Jordan was inspired to start skating at age 5 after watching Apolo Anton Ohno and Shani Davis compete at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. He began practicing on a frozen pond behind his family’s home in Wisconsin.

Conclusion

Jordan Stolz represents the perfect storm of natural talent, dedicated training, and small-town values that have produced one of the most dominant speed skaters in American history. From his humble beginnings on a Wisconsin farm pond to standing atop the Olympic podium with world records in hand, his journey embodies the essence of athletic excellence. At just 21 years old, with multiple Olympic gold medals, seven World Championship titles, and world records already secured, Jordan’s career is only beginning. As he continues to chase history and inspire the next generation of American speed skaters, one thing is certain: the name Jordan Stolz will be remembered alongside legends like Eric Heiden and Bonnie Blair in the pantheon of American winter sports icons.

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