The American Sensation in a Dutch Ice Palace
If you've been part of the dance world for thirty years, you learn one thing very quickly: rhythm and balance are everywhere. Whether you're standing on a wooden dance floor in Rotterdam or on the wafer-thin ice of the Rho Fiera Milano during the 2026 Winter Games. While we in the Netherlands traditionally sit in front of the TV in massive numbers for 'our' heroes like Femke Kok and Kjeld Nuis, there is one name turning everything upside down this year: Jordan Stolz.
The American skater is currently the talk of the town, not just in the sports world, but also here in our dance studio. Why? Because the way this boy moves across the ice has almost nothing to do with brute force anymore. It is pure choreography. In a country where speed skating is the national obsession, this year we are looking at Team USA with a mixture of admiration and healthy jealousy. According to the latest reports from Yahoo Sports, interest in the American team is greater than ever, and that has everything to do with Stolz's dominance in the sprint and middle distances.
Who is Jordan Stolz, actually?
Jordan Stolz was born on May 21, 2004, in West Bend, Wisconsin. He literally grew up on the ice, but not in the way you would expect from a world champion. No state-of-the-art ice rinks, but a frozen pond behind his house. Perhaps that is the reason for his unique style; he learned to survive on natural ice before perfecting his technique on the artificial ice rink.
In 2023, he made history by becoming the first man ever to win three individual gold medals at a single world championship (the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m). In the run-up to the 2026 Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, he is the absolute man to beat. For Dutch veterans like Kjeld Nuis, who hopes to conclude his illustrious career in Milan with a fourth Olympic title, Stolz is the ultimate challenge. As mentioned in an article by DutchNews.nl, the Dutch selection is rock-solid, but Stolz's shadow hangs over every starting gun.
The technique: Why his skating stride resembles dancing
From my experience as a dancer, I look at elite sports differently. Where a sports commentator talks about wattage and aerodynamics, I see the 'flow'. Stolz has a technique that we in the dance world would describe as 'effortless'. His center of gravity is always exactly in the right place, his weight transfer is seamless, and he doesn't waste a gram of energy on unnecessary movements.
It reminds me of a perfectly executed mambo basic or a cross-body lead. It's all about timing. When Stolz enters the turn, he uses centrifugal force like a dancer uses a spin. He doesn't fight the forces; he works with them. That is exactly what makes him so dangerous for the Dutch competition. Where many skaters rely on their enormous muscle mass, Stolz relies on his biomechanics and his sense of rhythm.
The battle in Milan 2026: Netherlands vs. Team USA
The 2026 Winter Games take place from February 6 to 22. The long-track speed skating events will be held at the Rho Fiera Milano, a venue specially converted for these Games. It is a setting reminiscent of a large theater, and the stage is set for a clash of titans.
The Dutch team travels to Italy with high expectations. Femke Kok is the big favorite in the women's sprint, flanked by Jutta Leerdam and Antoinette de Jong. For the men, the pressure rests on Kjeld Nuis and the young dogs who qualified through the grueling Dutch selection tournaments. But everywhere you look, you see the name Jordan Stolz at the top of the rankings. He is the only one who can truly break the Dutch hegemony in the 1000 and 1500 meters.
What makes these Games extra interesting is the atmosphere. As speed skating fan Johan van Buren indicated in the media, speed skating is about the performance, and fans cheer for everyone, regardless of nationality. That is the sportsmanship we also value so much in the dance world. We appreciate the art, regardless of who delivers the performance.
What we as dancers learn from these elite athletes
You might wonder what a skater in Wisconsin has to do with your weekly dance lesson. Actually, quite a lot. Jordan Stolz's focus on the basics is a lesson for every dancer. He spends hours on the smallest details of his push-off, just as we can spend hours refining the placement of our feet or the posture of our back.
In addition, there is the mental aspect. Stolz remains ice-cold calm under the enormous pressure of being the favorite. In the dance world, we call that stage presence. Whether you're standing before a jury or a full stadium in Milan, the art is to let your intuition take over your technique. You see with Stolz that he no longer thinks about his stride; he 'is' the movement. That is the level of mastery we always strive for at Miss Salsa as well.
Practical information for the 2026 Winter Games
Want to see Jordan Stolz and the Dutch top athletes live in action? Here are the facts you need to know:
- Dates: The Olympic Winter Games take place from February 6 to 22, 2026.
- Speed skating location: Rho Fiera Milano, Milan, Italy.
- Important men's distances: The 500m, 1000m, and 1500m are the distances where Stolz and the Dutch athletes face each other directly.
- Broadcasts: In the Netherlands, the races are mostly broadcast live by the NOS, both on TV and via their online channels.
It will be a fascinating month in which we hopefully see a lot of gold for the Dutch team, but secretly I also enjoy the 'dance' of Jordan Stolz. It reminds us that sport, in its purest form, is simply art in motion. Whether on a slippery ice floor or on the dance floor, the passion is exactly the same.