How to watch Jordan Stolz chase Gold in 2026 Winter Olympics

A 21-year-old from Kewaskum could make Winter Olympics history in February 2026. Jordan Stolz, the reigning world record holder and back-to-back world champion, enters the Milan Cortina Games as the heavy favorite to win multiple gold medals in speed skating—potentially becoming only the second American ever to win three or more golds at a single Winter Olympics. For Wisconsin families eager to cheer on their hometown hero, here's everything you need to know about when, where, and how to watch.

The Kewaskum kid

Jordan Stolz's journey to Olympic favorite began on a frozen pond in rural Washington County. His father Dirk, a deputy with the Washington County Sheriff's Office who immigrated from Germany, cleared snow from their backyard pond and installed outdoor lighting so young Jordan could skate at all hours. At five years old, watching Apolo Anton Ohno at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Stolz discovered his calling. His parents bought him used hockey skates—proper racing skates cost $600—and he spent winters pretending to be Ohno on that Kewaskum pond.

Stolz trains at Milwaukee's Pettit National Ice Center, the same hallowed ice where legends Eric Heiden, Bonnie Blair, and Dan Jansen honed their craft. His coach, 75-year-old Bob Corby, came out of a 20-year retirement when a 14-year-old Stolz called him in 2018 after losing his original coach. Corby had trained alongside Heiden in the 1970s and previously coached Jansen and Blair. He reintroduced old-school high-volume training methods, and Stolz responded by becoming the most dominant speed skater of his generation.

The numbers tell the story: Stolz holds the world record in the 1000m (1:05.37, set January 2024), won an unprecedented six consecutive world championship gold medals in individual events across 2023-2024, and strung together 18 consecutive World Cup victories from February 2024 to February 2025. The Dutch—who treat speed skating like Americans treat football—have nicknamed him "Straaljager" (Fighter Jet). He's a celebrity in the Netherlands; back home in Kewaskum, he can still walk through Walmart unrecognized.

Four chances at gold in Milan

Stolz has qualified for four events at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, giving Wisconsin fans multiple opportunities to witness history:

Men's 1000m — Wednesday, February 11 at 11:30 AM Central Overwhelming favorite (world record holder)

Men's 500m — Saturday, February 14 at 9:00 AM Central Strong contender; closest margins

Men's 1500m — Thursday, February 19 at 9:30 AM Central Heavy favorite with "fair gap" on field

Men's Mass Start — Saturday, February 21 at 8:00 AM Central First Mass Start season; won recent World Cup

Stolz himself assesses his chances candidly: "In the 1000m and 1500m, I have a fair gap, and I think even if I'm not at my best, I can still do a pretty good race." The 500m presents more uncertainty—"the margins are closer... a little slip, someone might beat you." He strategically placed the Mass Start last on his schedule: "I wouldn't be doing the mass start if it was before the 500m or before the 1000m."

If Stolz wins three individual golds, he would join Eric Heiden—who swept all five speed skating events at the 1980 Lake Placid Games—as the only Americans to achieve such a feat at a Winter Olympics. Heiden was also a Wisconsinite who trained at Pettit Center. Stolz made his Olympic debut in Beijing 2022 at age 17, finishing 13th in the 500m and 14th in the 1000m—performances that "left a bad taste in his mouth" and fueled his subsequent dominance.

Milan Cortina 2026: venue and timing basics

The XXV Olympic Winter Games take place February 6-22, 2026, co-hosted by Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo in northern Italy. Speed skating events occur at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium within the Fiera Milano exhibition complex—a temporary 6,500-seat venue built for the Games.

For Wisconsin viewers, the critical detail is the 7-hour time difference. Italy operates on Central European Time (CET), meaning when it's 4:00 PM in Milan, it's 9:00 AM in Milwaukee. This actually works favorably for speed skating fans: most of Stolz's events occur in European late afternoon, translating to morning viewing in Wisconsin—perfect for weekend family watching or catching events before work and school.

Italy Time Wisconsin Time (Central) 10:00 AM 3:00 AM 2:00 PM 7:00 AM 4:00 PM 9:00 AM 6:00 PM 11:00 AM 8:00 PM 1:00 PM

The Opening Ceremony takes place Friday, February 6 at 1:00 PM Central Time at Milan's legendary San Siro Stadium, featuring performances from Mariah Carey and Laura Pausini. The Closing Ceremony occurs Sunday, February 22 at Verona's ancient Roman amphitheater.

Your complete viewing schedule for Stolz events

Mark these dates on your calendar with the specific Central Time windows:

Wednesday, February 11 — Men's 1000m Final

• Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM CT

• Platform: Live on Peacock; likely NBC daytime coverage

• Significance: Stolz's strongest event; he holds the world record

Saturday, February 14 — Men's 500m Final

• Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM CT

• Platform: Live on Peacock; weekend NBC coverage expected

• Significance: Valentine's Day racing; Stolz says margins are closest here

Thursday, February 19 — Men's 1500m Final

• Time: 9:30 AM - 11:15 AM CT

• Platform: Live on Peacock; NBC daytime coverage

• Significance: Strong favorite with comfortable gap on competition

Saturday, February 21 — Men's Mass Start Final

• Time: 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM CT

• Platform: Live on Peacock; final day of speed skating

• Significance: Potential fourth gold; chaotic race format adds drama

These morning time slots mean Wisconsin families can gather for breakfast viewing parties. Saturday events (500m and Mass Start) are particularly family-friendly, falling on weekends when kids aren't in school.

How to watch every race

Peacock is the essential subscription for Olympics coverage. At $10.99/month for Peacock Premium, you get every single event streamed live—all 116 medal events across 17 days. This is the most cost-effective approach: subscribe in early February, watch the entire Olympics, then cancel in March.

NBC's broadcast coverage is free over-the-air with an HD antenna, featuring daytime live coverage and the nightly "Primetime in Milan" show hosted by Mike Tirico. However, broadcast coverage curates content for storytelling—you may miss Stolz's actual races live if they're not featured in that window.

Viewing Option Cost What You Get Peacock Premium $10.99/month All events live, replays, Gold Zone, Multiview Peacock Premium Plus $16.99/month Above plus ad-free, downloads, local NBC HD Antenna $20-50 one-time NBC primetime and select daytime only YouTube TV / Hulu Live ~$73-77/month NBC + USA Network + CNBC + DVR

Speed skating commentary comes from Bill Spaulding on play-by-play and 2006 Olympic gold medalist Joey Cheek as analyst. For cord-cutters specifically wanting speed skating, Peacock is non-negotiable—USA Network and CNBC provide supplemental cable coverage, but Peacock guarantees you won't miss Stolz's races.

Several money-saving options exist: Xfinity Gigabit internet customers receive Peacock Premium free for two years; students pay just $1.99/month; teachers, military, and first responders qualify for $3.99/month. Instacart+ memberships also include Peacock Premium.

What makes this a potentially historic Olympics

Stolz enters Milan in the best form of his career. Through December 2025, he won 14 of his first 15 World Cup races this season, setting six track records in just two weeks at Heerenveen and Hamar. His 500m time in Hamar (33.979) destroyed the track record; his 1500m (1:44.161) broke Shani Davis's 16-year-old mark. "Best shape I've ever been," Stolz told reporters in December.

The comparisons to Eric Heiden are inevitable and appropriate. Both are Wisconsin natives. Both made Olympic debuts at 17. Both trained at Pettit Center. Only two men since World War II have paired an Olympic/World 500m title with a World Allround title: Heiden and Stolz. Heiden has offered Stolz friendly advice; Stolz acknowledges the weight of potentially matching that legendary achievement.

A three-gold performance would cement Stolz among the greatest American Winter Olympians ever. A four-gold sweep—adding the Mass Start—would surpass Heiden's feat since the Mass Start didn't exist in 1980. Wisconsin hasn't had an athlete this dominant on the winter sports world stage since Heiden himself 46 years ago.

Conclusion: a once-in-a-generation Wisconsin story

Jordan Stolz represents everything compelling about Olympic stories: small-town origins (population 4,200 in Kewaskum), tragedy overcome (losing his first coach at 13), mentorship renewed (convincing a retired legend to return), and excellence earned through relentless work on a frozen backyard pond and at Milwaukee's Pettit Center. He still lives at home with his parents. He sharpens his own skate blades. He goes fishing in Alaska and remains anonymous at Wisconsin Walmarts despite being a bona fide celebrity in the Netherlands.

For Wisconsin families, the viewing logistics are unusually favorable: morning Central Time broadcasts, weekend showcase events, and affordable Peacock access. The $10.99 monthly subscription pays for itself in four mornings of watching a young man from 45 minutes north of Milwaukee potentially make American Winter Olympics history. Circle February 11, 14, 19, and 21 on your calendars. Stock up on breakfast foods. This is Wisconsin's moment on the Olympic stage.