No American had won a gold medal in the Men’s 1000m Speed Skating since 2010. Jordan Stolz decided to break that curse, and the 21-year-old did the job in style.

He set a new Olympic record in the category with a time of 1:06.28, beating the previous best that stood since 2002. But that is not the only thing he is taking away from Milan-Cortina 2026. Stolz followed up with another triumph in the 500 m, also setting an Olympic record (33.77 seconds).

But as much as speed skating takes skills, it also demands a fitness routine that powers success. Take a look at Stolz’s fitness routine described by Athlon Sports.

Leg-Centric Strength Training

Stolz prioritizes leg strength above everything else. He avoids upper-body lifting to stay light and performs heavy squats, single-leg squats up to high reps, and plyometrics to build quad and glute force.

"I've done bench press once or twice in the last three years," he said. "Only squats." He completes single-leg squats for up to 50 repetitions, then progresses to heavier loads performed in 10-rep sets. 

Long Hours on the Bike

A huge part of Stolz’s conditioning comes from cycling. He logs many hours a week on the bike, with reports around up to 18 hours weekly, especially in the offseason. This builds aerobic endurance and strength in a way that translates to sustained power on the ice.

Other than that, Stolz has also said he does a lot of plyometric moves and rides a bike for up to five hours. That's how he gets the majority of his cardio training in.

Simple, Carb-Focused Race Nutrition

Speaking to Men’s Health fitness director Ebenezer Samuel in Italy, Jordan Stolz revealed that his lunch before competition consists solely of rice.

“The lunch before a race, it’s only rice,” he said. He avoids adding protein or other foods. “I just feel like it doesn’t sit well in my stomach. I’m trying to get as many carbs in as possible.”

If additional energy is needed before the competition, he adds a carbohydrate gel. Outside of race days, his nutrition plan is more varied and includes substantial protein to support recovery and muscle development.

With this regimen, do you think Stolz will be able to add more glory to his country?

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Written by

Mohd Mudabbir Ansari

Edited by

Souvik Roy