Speed skater Jordan Stolz denied 3rd gold medal, takes silver in 1500m

MILAN -- China's Ning Zhongyan won the men's 1,500 meters at the Winter Olympics on Thursday, denying American Jordan Stolz of his third speed skating gold medal of these Games.

Stolz claimed silver, while two-time defending Olympic 1,500m champion Kjeld Nuis of the Netherlands secured bronze to round out a high-caliber podium.

Stolz entered the event as the overwhelming favorite after record-breaking victories in both the 1,000m and 500m. He was undefeated in the 1,500m this season.

But the field was stacked with heavyweights, including Nuis, the 1,500m world record holder; newly crowned 5,000m Olympic champion Sander Eitrem; 10,000m gold medalist Metodej Jilek; as well as Dutchman Joep Wennemars and Poland's Vladimir Semirunniy.

But Ning, 26, already buoyed by two bronzes at the Milan Cortina Games in the men's 1,000m and the team pursuit, had other plans.

Skating in the 13th of 15 pairs, Ning started in the inner lane alongside Nuis. On a remarkable day for the distance, the Olympic record fell twice: first to Wennemars in the 11th pair, and then to Ning, who obliterated the new mark moments later.

He stopped the clock at 1 minute, 41.98 seconds, finishing 0.77 seconds ahead of Stolz.

With Ning's triumph, China now holds three gold medals at these Games, following Mengtao Xu's victory in the women's freestyle skiing aerials and Yiming Su's win in the men's snowboard slopestyle.

--Reuters, special to Field Level Media