The Dutch great, usually at the top of the podium on home ice in Thialf, offered a knowing nod and a smile to the 21-year-old American prodigy Jordan proud, which was broken Nuis‘s five-year-old track record of 1.43.00 by .45 seconds (1.42.55) on December 5 at the ISU World Cup in Heerenveen.
“All glory to him, he stole it fair and square,‘, Nuis said humbly to the media. ‘If anyone can take it, it is Stolz.”
Nuis fought for it himself and skated the last duo with the eventual bronze medalist Zhongshan Ning of the People’s Republic of China. His 1.43.31 earned silver and something more valuable in the pre-Olympic season: proof that he can still summon world-class speed.
“This is my best race in five yearshe said. “If you had told me five years ago that I could still do this, I wouldn’t have believed you.”
But this season’s undefeated 1500 and 1000 meters, Stolz still seems to be sliding in his own lane. “I took a silver medal behind a phenomenon‘, Nuis said. ‘Of course there is one man faster, but he comes from another planet.”
Stolz’s coach, Bob Corby, agreed, describing his race and fortuitous record simply: “He just has way too much talent.”
But even though Stolz seems to be from another planet, Nuis remains grounded on this planet and keeps his eyes on the planet. Milan Cortina Winter Olympics 2026.
“I’m not going to Milan as an underdog. I’m going as defending champion”, he insisted.
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