Two speedskaters redefining rivalry through mutual respect

Jordan Stolz and Jenning de Boo are skating the fastest 500 meters in Olympic history, and they're doing it while genuinely rooting for each other.

Stolz, 21, the American phenom, edged out de Boo, 22, from the Netherlands by 0.11 seconds at the Milano-Cortina Games, clocking 33.77 seconds—a new Olympic record. But the story isn't about one skater crushing another. It's about two generational talents who've decided that beating each other is more interesting than belittling each other.

"I think we're having some pretty historic battles," Stolz said after the race. "It's fun after the race, but during the race it's pretty tough and there's a lot of nerves." De Boo returned the compliment: "He's the man to beat right now and I'm doing my absolute best to beat him, but he's just crazy strong."

Watching them compete is like watching two musicians improvising—there's intensity, precision, and a shared understanding that they're both pushing the sport forward. Before the race, they shook hands and wished each other luck. After, they traded technical praise like teammates reviewing footage.

What Makes This Different

Laurent Dubreuil, the 33-year-old Canadian bronze medalist who set an Olympic record just minutes earlier (34.26 seconds), watched these two younger skaters demolish his time and seemed almost relieved. "I'm not sure if I can beat those young guys anymore," he said. "They're just so good." He noted that de Boo's corners are exceptional—actually faster than Stolz's—but Stolz's finishing kick is something else entirely. "It's not something we can copy—he's just physically superior to us."

What's striking is how Stolz and de Boo talk about each other's strengths without a hint of resentment. Stolz praised de Boo's technique and physical power, his willingness to skate differently from everyone else. De Boo admired Stolz's discipline, his ability to stay sharp under pressure after being the favorite for so long.

"I don't think there's going to be any trash talk," de Boo said simply. "I don't think skating is a sport for that. We're not fighting, we're speed skating."

De Boo leaves Milano with two silver medals. Stolz has two more events ahead—the 1500m and the Mass Start—and at this pace, he's likely to add more gold. But the rivalry between them feels less like a zero-sum competition and more like two athletes raising the entire sport's ceiling together.

It's a reminder that the fiercest rivalries don't require animosity. Sometimes they just require two people who are genuinely better when they're pushing against each other.