November 19, 2025 – Salt Lake City, UT — The final day of competition Sunday at the ISU World Cup brought a mixed finish for Town of Wayne speedskater Jordan Stolz, who placed 4th in the 500m and 15th in his first mass start of the season. While not the medal-filled finale fans hoped for, Stolz remained upbeat, analytical, and focused on growth.
Competing in the mass start for the first time this season, Stolz approached the race with curiosity more than strategy.
“I didn’t really have a strategy because it was the first one and I wanted to see what everybody else was doing,” Stolz said. “I used up a lot of energy that I could have saved, but I’ll have to keep working on it and figure out what each guy does in the race.”
Despite the chaos of the pack, Stolz found a surprising comfort.
“I liked it. It took a couple laps to get used to it, but then it kind of came back from, you know, the old days. I was fairly comfortable being pushed and stuff. So, yeah.”
After a long weekend, he admitted fatigue was a factor.
“I was doing pretty good. I was a little tired today from the previous races, but I think I’m in a good spot right now and as I get stronger, it’s going to get even better.”
On the second 500m, Stolz felt his technique was sharper even if his legs weren’t as fresh.
“Yeah, I felt like I skated a better race today. I just didn’t have the power in the legs because of all the other races, but everybody else did really well. I think the ice was faster, too.”
Still, he finished the weekend grateful and looking forward.
Coach Bob Corby echoed Stolz’s positive outlook and emphasized the bigger picture.
Asked whether there had been a masterplan for the weekend, Corby said, “No, no plans. I’m just glad he skated. He skated really well. Won three races. So we know we’re in the right place and can’t worry about anything else.”
Corby said the second 500m was surprising, but not alarming.
“I mean, a little bit. When it came up number four, I was like, ‘Oh, okay. Well, it’s okay.’ If it was four yesterday and four today, I would have been a little concerned, but it’s okay. And Yenni skated great. So did Costkin. These guys are good. You can’t skate those times without being unbelievably talented.”
On the mass start — something he previously admitted caused “nerves” — Corby said the race unfolded better than expected.
“It was fast enough that it didn’t look like it was going to be too much jostling and pushing and stuff like that… Actually the ultimate goal for today was don’t get in the last three, because then you get moved down to B division. As long as you stay in A, you’re qualified for the Games.”
Emotional moments in the Team Pursuit
Corby’s voice cracked when talking about the U.S. team pursuit athletes — especially the women — competing in their last major event in the famous Salt Lake oval.
“Oh my God, that was so phenomenal. Those kids. I’m crying back there for the girls and the guys. Mia and Britney are crying like crazy because I’m crying so hard. They’re both retiring. This is the last big event they’ll skate in this building. And they got a bronze medal. It was great.”
He praised the men’s team as well.
“The guys just solid, just skated hard. Poor Ethan’s done with the mass start 15 minutes before he goes out there and sets a world record. Oh my God.”
Corby said there’s something uniquely meaningful about team events:
“They’re all skating for each other. It’s just wonderful.”
As for what this weekend means going forward?
“Hardly at all,” Corby said. “We’re going to start training as soon as we get to Calgary. A couple of days of hard training, a couple of days of rest, and then we’ll see how he does. He may only win one race at Calgary or not win any. It’s okay.”
Still, he was impressed by what Stolz accomplished.
“Yes, I was — both with the placements and with the times.”
Even the near-world-record 500m caught his attention:
“I was really kind of surprised that the world record wasn’t set in the 500 meters because when Kashkin only missed it by six-hundredths of a second, I was like, ‘Oh, this is going to be a world record.’”
Stolz leaves Salt Lake City not with medals from the final day, but with valuable experience, a strong season start, and the confidence of a coach who believes he is exactly where he needs to be.
On to Calgary — and the next step in a defining season for the young star.
November 16, 2025 – Salt Lake City, UT – Two more races on tap Sunday afternoon for the 21-year-old phenom Jordan Stolz at the ISU World Cup in Salt Lake City, UT. Stolz will be skating a second round of the 500m and he will be trying his hand at the mass start, a 16-lap pack-style race between 24 skaters. The mass start is the last race of the day starting at 4:38 p.m. CST.
In the 500m Stolz is slated to skate in the ninth pairing against Bjørn Magnussen of Norway. During the first 500m, Magnussen, 27, finished in fifth place with a time of 33.990.
On Saturday, Stolz skated a blistering 33.88 to win gold. Coach Bob Corby said Stolz’s numbers in the first 500m on Saturday show elite potential.
“He skated a 9.5 in the first 100 meters and that’s phenomenal. He usually skates 9.6. If he gets low 9.5 or 9.4, the show’s over. Nobody can beat him because he has so much speed in the lap. If he gets to the first 100 within two feet of the fastest guy? Nobody’s going to beat him.”
The track record/world record in the 500m is 33.61 set in 2019 by Pavel Kulizhnikov.
The mens 500m begins at 3:34 p.m. CST.