Star speed skater Jordan Stoltz shockingly stumbled on the ice just after starting the men's 1000m race at the US Olympic speed skating trials on Saturday, but still finished third to head to the Winter Games in Cortina in Milan.
Stoltz caught the toe of one of his skates on the slippery surface, lost his balance and tripped after less than five steps at Pettit National Ice Center, about 40 miles south of his hometown of Kewaskum. It was something that just doesn't happen to the world's best at what they do – someone expected to earn a few medals and become one of the faces of the Olympics, which take place from February 6 to 22.
He quickly got up and continued the race, performing well enough to have the third fastest time among the 33 competitors.
“I was just trying to get it all out there, right? Go hard and see what happens and where I end up,” Stoltz said.
He pointed to a recent cold that had prevented him from preparing properly.
“It just didn’t feel right,” the 21-year-old said. “I was sitting around a lot. I had some cramps and dehydration, so that was more of an issue today.”
He's not just considered a medal contender in at least three events, including the 1000m in Milan – he might just be the favorite for gold.
In addition to the world record for 1000 meters, Stolz is a two-time world champion at distances of 500, 1000 and 1500 meters.
Due to past results, Stolz had pre-qualified for these three Olympic races and only needed to compete on Saturday to officially secure his place in the lineup. Despite the error, he ended up setting a good enough time to be one of the three automatic qualifiers for the 1000, joining Conor McDermott-Mostowy and Cooper McLeod.
McDermott-Mostovoy clocked 1 minute, 7.606 seconds, with McLeod 0.24 seconds behind and Stoltz 0.36 seconds off the pace.
“He handled it very impressively,” McLeod said of Stoltz's recovery. “He handled it like the multiple world champion that he is.”
Earlier on Saturday, Erin Jackson qualified in the women's 1000m, finishing faster than her good friend, world record holder Brittany Bowe.
At the trials four years ago, Jackson missed the 500 and couldn't earn a place at this event. But Bowe, who qualified for the 500m, gave way to Jacksonwho then went to Beijing and became first black woman to win an individual gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
Bowe posted the fastest time on Saturday ahead of the two-woman final as Jackson completed the 1000m in 1:14.63. This was 0.39 faster than Bow. They both grew up in Ocala, Florida.and began taking up roller skating before moving on to the ice.
Jackson's performance on Saturday was all the more impressive given that she tore her left hamstring shortly before the start of the World Cup in December.
“At the beginning of this week I wasn’t sure if I would be able to race or not,” Jackson said. “But it's gotten really good in the last few days. It's gotten better at the right time.”
Bowe gets second place in the US among 1000 women. She turns 38 next month and heads to her fourth and final Olympics.
Bowe won a bronze medal in the 1000m in Beijing and bronze in the team pursuit at the 2018 PyeongChang Games.
“To be able to be 1 and 2 with [Jackson] it’s great,” Bowe said, “and to be able to go back to the Olympics with her and give her another chance to do something incredible, it’s going to be fun.”
