CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Jordan Stolz is 2 on 2. There’s a chance 4 on 4 isn’t far off.
The American skater took his second gold medal in two attempts at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina on Saturday, accelerating to victory in the 500 meters.
Stolz joined Eric Heiden as the only skaters to win both the 500 and 1,000 meters at the same Olympic Games. Heiden made it in Lake Placid in 1980, more than 24 years before Stolz, now 21, was born.
Although Stolz has been cautious in comparing himself to Heiden, who won a record five tests almost fifty years ago, he hardly seems deterred by the challenge.
The Wisconsin native’s time was 33.77 seconds, giving him his second Olympic record in four days. He did the same on Wednesday and conquered the 1,000 meters.
The Dutchman Jenning de Boo took silver, just like in the 1,000. Canadian Laurent Dubreuil won bronze with 34.26.
Next on the program for Stolz is the 1,500 meters on Thursday and the mass start on February 21.
Brazil gives Latin America its first medal at the Winter Olympics
The partying in Brazil this week is not limited to the Carnival of Rio de Janeiro.
The alpine skier Lucas Pinheiro Braathen won the first medal in Latin America nothing less than gold at the Winter Olympics, by winning the giant slalom.
The 25-year-old athlete, whose father is Norwegian and whose mother is Brazilian, recorded an overall time in two races of 2 minutes and 25 seconds, beating defending champion Marco Odermatt of Switzerland by 58 hundredths. Odermatt’s teammate Loic Meillard took bronze on the snowy and slippery Stelvia track.
“I was skiing with my heart, and when you ski the way you are, anything is possible,” said Pinheiro Braathen. “The only thing that matters to me is to remain who I am. I am a Brazilian skier who became an Olympic champion.”
Flock wins the first Olympic skeleton gold at the age of 36
Austrian Janine Flock’s long road to Olympic gold is over. The skeletal specialist, 36 years old and without victories in 16 historic participations between Olympic Games or world championships, won gold at the Cortina Sliding Center, the biggest victory of her extensive career.
Flock took the lead on his first descent and stayed there for the entire race. He completed four descents in 3 minutes and 49.02 seconds. Susanne Kreher and Jacqueline Pfeifer, both from Germany, took silver and bronze respectively.
“I can’t believe it. It doesn’t feel real right now,” Flock said. “It’s a dream to do this.”
Flock has had a lot of success over the years. She is a three-time world champion and has several medals. But I never pray. Not until Saturday.
Pfeifer’s bronze made her the second woman to win multiple Olympic medals in skeleton. Eight years ago he was a silver medalist in Pyeongchang.
Van ‘t Wout achieves 2nd short track gold
Dutchman Jens van ‘t Wout won the gold medal in the 1,500 meters short track speed skating, adding to his Olympic performance after winning the 1,000 meters earlier this week.
South Korean Daeheon Hwang took silver and Latvian Roberts Kruzbergs came third for bronze, while Canadian short track star William Dandjinou had to settle for fifth place.
Van ‘t Wout raised his arms after crossing the finish line in 2 minutes and 12.219 seconds and immediately skated towards a sea of orange-clad teammates to share hugs at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
Hwang, a gold medalist at the 2022 Beijing Games, finished in 2:12.304.
Anthony gets his 2nd gold in pits
Jakara Anthony claimed another gold in freestyle skiing for Australia, winning the double bumps on the Olympic debut.
Anthony avoided mistakes in her five knockout races to win the second gold of her career; four years ago she was Olympic champion in individual bumps.
It was Australia’s second gold in Livigno. His compatriot Cooper Woods surprised Mikael Kingsbury in the men’s singles at the start of the Games.
American Jaelin Kauf took silver, the third medal of that color in her Olympic career. Teammate Elizabeth Lamely, who took gold in the individual bumps earlier this week, took bronze.
Prevc flies for gold in ski jumping
Slovenian Domen Prevcse climbed through the raindrops to take gold in the major men’s ski jumping competition.
Prevc was in second place with one jump to go. He saved the best for last and flew an impressive 141.5 meters – the best of the night – to surpass Japan’s Ren Nikaido and Poland’s Kacper Tomasiak.
The 26-year-old athlete didn’t feel much pressure as he walked up the slope for the last time. He relied on the joy of sports he discovered and followed in the footsteps of his older brothers.
“Even before the second round I was like, ‘do your thing, do your best, enjoy the jump and feel the air,’” Prevc said. “When I had a really good start, I became super happy and I could just enjoy the air.”
Norway Kirkeeide recovers and wins biathlon sprint
Maren Kirkeeide’s first Olympic biathlon race ended with a disheartening 49th place at the start of the Games.
The second went much better.
The Norwegian won gold in the women’s 7.5 kilometer sprint, hitting all 10 shots before crossing the finish line in 20 minutes and 40.8 seconds, just ahead of Frenchman Oceane Michelon, who arrived 3.8 seconds later.
Another Frenchwoman, Lou Jeanmonnot, missed one, but retained the bronze, 23.7 seconds behind.
“I wanted to do my best, I got positive feedback from the coaches and after that I had extra motivation, and that helped me to the finish,” said Kirkeeide.
Jeanmonnot now has the entire medal collection in Italy. He won silver in the 15 kilometer individual event and was part of France’s mixed relay, which won gold.
Norway benefits from Sweden’s setback in cross-country skiing
A break in the Swedish ski binding system opened an opportunity. Norway liked to use it in the women’s cross-country ski relay.
The Norwegians pulled off the surprise of winning gold in a discipline dominated by the Swedes. Sweden entered the race having won seven of a possible nine medals at the Tesero circuit so far.
The Swedes were in the lead during the second stage when Ebba Andersson broke her bonds and fell. Because at one point she was forced to ski on just one ski, she lost valuable time.
Norway finished the 4 x 7.5 kilometer race in 1 hour, 15 minutes and 44.8 seconds, 50 seconds ahead of Sweden. Finland won bronze by over a minute.
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