American star Jordan Stolz takes silver in 1,500 meter speed skating at Winter Olympics after winning 2 gold medals

American speed skater Jordan Stolz came close to claiming his third Olympic gold on Thursday, losing to China’s Ning Zhongyan in the men’s 1,500-meter race to take silver.

Stolz was initially the favorite to win the race, but ultimately came in a second slower, after Zhongyan finished the event in 1:41.98 and set an Olympic record. Competing in the anticipated final heat of the 1,500 meters, Stolz finished with a time of 1:42.75.

Ning could be seen jumping excitedly from the barrier once Stolz crossed the finish line. His gold in this event came after two bronze medals for Ning at these Olympic Games, in the 1,000 meters and in the team competitions. The Dutchman Kjeld Nuis took the bronze medal in the 1,500 meters, behind Stolz.

Had Stolz taken first place, the 21-year-old would have become the second American athlete in history to collect at least three gold medals in any sport during a single Winter Games, decades after American skater Eric Heiden won five gold medals at the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid, New York.

Stolz won gold in the men’s category 1,000 meters and 500 meters speed skating events and set Olympic records in both races. His victory in the 1,000 meters marked the first medal for an American in that event since 2010. He became the first American since Heiden to win two medals in speed skating when he won the latter race over the weekend.

After capturing his first gold in the 1,000 meters, Stolz told News themezone that he expected his upcoming events to be some of the best of the year.

“That’s what I’m looking for,” Stolz said.

This is Stolz’s second Winter Games, after he debuted in Beijing and placed 14th in the 1,000 meters and 13th in the 500 meters. Outside of the Olympics, he is the world record holder for 1,000 meter speed skating and the reigning two-time World Cup champion at that distance.

Stolz will compete this Saturday in his fourth and final event of the Milan Cortino Games, the mass start.