MILAN & CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – American speedskater Jordan Stolz secured his second gold medal at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Saturday, winning the men’s 500-meter race with a time of 33.77 seconds. The victory comes after Stolz previously set an Olympic record in the 1,000-meter final earlier this week, positioning him as a dominant force in speedskating.
The race saw Stolz matched against Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands, considered one of his primary competitors. However, Stolz’s performance proved decisive, finishing 0.11 seconds ahead of de Boo, who took silver. Canada’s Laurent Dubreuil claimed the bronze medal with a time of 34.26 seconds.
“There’s a chance 4 for 4 might not be far behind,” the Associated Press reported, referencing Stolz’s ambition to win all four speedskating events at the Games. Stolz joins Eric Heiden as the only skater to win both the 500 and 1,000 meters at the same Olympics; Heiden achieved the feat at Lake Placid in 1980.
Saturday also marked a historic moment for South America as Lucas Pinheiro Braathen of Brazil won gold in the men’s giant slalom. This victory represents the first Winter Olympics gold medal ever won by an athlete from a South American nation. Braathen, whose father is Norwegian and mother is Brazilian, finished with a two-run time of 2 minutes, 25 seconds, beating defending champion Marco Odermatt of Switzerland by 0.58 seconds.
“I’m not even able to grasp reality, as I stand here right now,” Braathen said after his win, according to Getty Images. “I am just trying to get some sort of emotion here and translate it into words, even though it’s absolutely impossible.” He expressed hope that his achievement would inspire young athletes, stating, “despite what they wear, despite how they look, despite where they come from, they can follow their own dreams and be who they really are.”
In other events, the U.S. Men’s hockey team continued their strong performance, defeating Denmark 6-3 in preparation for their upcoming preliminary round finale against Germany on Sunday. The U.S. Showed offensive strength but also displayed defensive vulnerabilities, according to reports. The game against Germany is scheduled for 21:10 local time and will be streamed on Sportschau.
American skiers Jaelin Kauf and Elizabeth Lemley also secured medals in the debut of dual moguls, winning silver and bronze respectively. Australia’s Jakara Anthony took gold. Kauf’s silver medal marks the third Olympic silver of her career, whereas Lemley’s bronze comes just days after she won gold in individual moguls.
The use of drones is also proving to be a significant element of the broadcast coverage, with 25 drones – including 15 first-person-view drones – providing unique aerial perspectives of the events. Pilots like Jelmer Poelsma are becoming increasingly recognized for their skill in capturing dynamic footage, requiring precise maneuvers and quick battery changes akin to Formula 1 pit stops. Olympic Broadcasting Services CEO Yiannis Exarchos stated that the technology is used “only if it adds to the story that we’re telling.”
Sunday’s schedule includes competitions in women’s giant slalom, biathlon, freestyle skiing, and ice hockey, with several medal events anticipated. The U.S. Men’s hockey team will face Germany, and the women’s monobob competition will continue with the second heat.
