Stolz races to third gold at ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Beijing

World champion Jordan Stolz of the U.S. extended his unbeaten run into the new season, claiming the men's 1,000-meter title at the International Skating Union (ISU) Speed Skating World Cup in Beijing on Saturday.

Fresh from his 500-meter and 1,500-meter victory on Friday, the 20-year-old won the 1,000-meter race in one minute and 7.62 seconds for his third gold at the National Speed Skating Oval. The duel saw all top three skaters surpass the record of 1:07.92 set by Thomas Krol at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

"It was a great race. During the first lap I was a little bit tired from the 1,500-meter and 500-meter, but I thought I had the endurance getting through the last lap, so I didn't worry too much," commented Stolz, who had lowered the track record in Friday's 500m event.

Having won the 500-meter, 1,000-meter and 1,500-meter golds in back-to-back world championships in the past two seasons, Stolz has cemented his place as the leading male skater in short and middle distance. Now the American sensation is on an 11-race winning streak.

"Especially if I keep continuing to win, I just want to stay ahead. But as of right now, I still have tomorrow to go. I'll be a little fatigued for that, but I'll try my best," Stolz said. He has a chance to win his fourth gold in Sunday's second 500-meter race, just as he did in the previous World Cup in Nagano, Japan.

Ning Zhongyan of China, who was leading the field with a 1:07.91 finish in the seventh pair, shook his head despondently after seeing Stolz's performance in the next pair and had to settle for a bronze after Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands clocked 1:07.82 for his second silver in Beijing.

"I'm happy to be able to stand on the podium on home ice, although a gold medal would be better, but I'm satisfied with my performance," Ning said. "Now I will focus on the team pursuit event tomorrow and hopefully wrap up this World Cup in a good way."

Japanese Olympic champion Tagaki Miho also became multi-time gold medalist at the "Ice Ribbon", where she had claimed the women's 1,000-meter gold at Beijing 2022. The 30-year-old crossed the line in 1:14.62 over the same distance, followed by two Dutch skaters Antoinette de Jong (1:14.72) and Angel Daleman (1:14.90). China's Han Mei narrowly missed the podium by 0.01 seconds.

Norwegian skaters excelled in long distance races on Saturday as Ragne Wiklund came first in women's 3,000-meter in 4:00.10 and Sander Eitrem triumphed in men's 5,000-meter event in 6:09.48.

The ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Beijing will conclude on Sunday with six golds up for grab in the men's and women's 500-meter, team pursuit and mass start competitions.