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.
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.
Jordan Stolz and Ning Zhongyan respect on and off the ice. pic.twitter.com/WDeimgrRSJ— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 19, 2026
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.