American Speedskater Jordan Stolz Chooses Rest Over Olympic Medal Bid
In a surprising move at the US Olympic Trials, star speedskater Jordan Stolz opted to forego competition in the men's 1,500-meter event after already securing an Olympic berth through World Cup results. The 21-year-old, fresh from a dominating performance in the 500 meters, simply lined up at the starting line for the longer distance and then coasted off, signaling his intention not to actually race.
The decision was made with Stolz acknowledging that he needed some extra rest after finishing first in the 1,000 meters just a day earlier. He expressed fatigue but emphasized that it didn't matter, as this was part of his training process ahead of the Milan Cortina Games.
Despite not competing, Stolz's teammate Emery Lehman claimed the men's 1,500-meter title with a time of 1:44.20 seconds, followed closely by Casey Dawson in second place at 1:45.60 seconds. For women, Brittany Bowe secured the gold medal in the 1,500 meters, while Greta Myers initially finished second before being disqualified and then re-qualifying.
Stolz's decision not to compete has sparked a mix of reactions from fans and fellow athletes. However, as he stated, it was simply about taking care of his body and getting him ready for what truly matters – the Olympics. With an assured spot in four events already secured through World Cup results, Stolz is now looking forward to participating in the mass start event on Monday.
This unusual move comes after Stolz suffered a setback in the 1,000 meters, falling during his initial lap and still managing to secure a respectable third-place finish. Despite this blip, he expressed confidence with his performance, crediting it to having recently recovered from a head cold that had left him dehydrated and cramping.
The US Olympic Trials continue through Monday, with the remaining heats for both men's and women's 500-meter events taking place. With several athletes still vying for spots in these key events, Stolz's decision serves as a reminder that, even at the highest levels of competition, rest and recovery can play a significant role in ultimately achieving success.
In a surprising move at the US Olympic Trials, star speedskater Jordan Stolz opted to forego competition in the men's 1,500-meter event after already securing an Olympic berth through World Cup results. The 21-year-old, fresh from a dominating performance in the 500 meters, simply lined up at the starting line for the longer distance and then coasted off, signaling his intention not to actually race.
The decision was made with Stolz acknowledging that he needed some extra rest after finishing first in the 1,000 meters just a day earlier. He expressed fatigue but emphasized that it didn't matter, as this was part of his training process ahead of the Milan Cortina Games.
Despite not competing, Stolz's teammate Emery Lehman claimed the men's 1,500-meter title with a time of 1:44.20 seconds, followed closely by Casey Dawson in second place at 1:45.60 seconds. For women, Brittany Bowe secured the gold medal in the 1,500 meters, while Greta Myers initially finished second before being disqualified and then re-qualifying.
Stolz's decision not to compete has sparked a mix of reactions from fans and fellow athletes. However, as he stated, it was simply about taking care of his body and getting him ready for what truly matters – the Olympics. With an assured spot in four events already secured through World Cup results, Stolz is now looking forward to participating in the mass start event on Monday.
This unusual move comes after Stolz suffered a setback in the 1,000 meters, falling during his initial lap and still managing to secure a respectable third-place finish. Despite this blip, he expressed confidence with his performance, crediting it to having recently recovered from a head cold that had left him dehydrated and cramping.
The US Olympic Trials continue through Monday, with the remaining heats for both men's and women's 500-meter events taking place. With several athletes still vying for spots in these key events, Stolz's decision serves as a reminder that, even at the highest levels of competition, rest and recovery can play a significant role in ultimately achieving success.
. As someone who's been following his training process, I know he's been putting his body on the line in every competition, and it's clear that he needs to prioritize rest and recovery if he wants to perform at his best for the Olympics 
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. We've all been there after a big win or a tough competition, and it's okay to take a step back and recharge. The fact that he's already secured an Olympic berth through World Cup results is huge, and I'm confident that he'll be ready to shine when it matters most 
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. He's not being lazy or taking a shortcut – he's being smart and looking out for his own well-being 
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who needs medals when you need sleep? 
[GIF of a person taking a nap on the ice rink]
? Stolz is all about setting himself up for success, and that's totally admirable. Kudos to him for putting his body first - we could all learn from that! 
1,500m is just another event, not life or death btw, gotta respect the dude for prioritizing his body over a medal bid 
... I mean, who coastes off in the middle of an Olympic Trials? This Stolz guy thinks he's some kinda superhero or something 
... I mean, I get that rest is important, but can't you just make a sacrifice or something? 
i mean if he needed that much rest after 1 day of competing maybe he should just retire now 
but for real though, gotta respect his dedication to training and recovery. it's not always easy being a pro athlete, especially with all the pressure and expectations 
On one hand, it's all about taking care of his body and getting ready for what truly matters – the Olympics. I mean, if he's feeling fatigued, maybe he should listen to himself... 
Not just cruising through events without even trying... 
Still, I guess it's all about finding that balance between rest and pushing yourself... 
its not about being selfish or anything (i dont think) it just shows that even at the top, recovery and rest are just as important as competing. gotta respect that 
. Stolz's makin' a smart move and I'm lovin' it