The 1000 metres - a distance traditionally dominated by the United States and the Netherlands - was headlined by two youngsters: American Jordan Stolz, who set the world record time of 1:05.37 in Salt Lake City in 2024, and Dutchman Jenning de Boo, who set his fastest 1000m time in Calgary in January 2025 at 1:06.05.
Outsiders for the title were the Polish Damian Zurek, who set the season's second-fastest time at 1:06.02 in Salt Lake City, and Dutchman Joep Wennemars, whose father Erben won bronze on the 1000m at the Games of 2006 in Turin, while Dutchman Kjeld Nuis, four-time gold medallist and 1000m Olympic champion 2018, was out for one more bit of history in his famous Olympic career.
Home hero Daniele Di Stefano was in first by the time the Zambonis were brought out, leading into the second half with 1:08.17 - a time that fell after Kjeld Nuis' final 1000m race, which ended with a time of 1:07.65.
Joep Wennemars was left utterly frustrated after his crossing with Ziwen Lian went horribly wrong, with his Chinese opponent impeding him and costing him up to nine strokes and a costly second. The Dutchman still set barely the fastest time, but was awarded a second attempt, scheduled after the 16th and final heat.
The biggest race of the event between Stolz and De Boo showed the American's class after Stolz broke Gerard van Velde's 24-year-old Olympic record by diving almost a second underneath it with a time of 1:06.28. De Boo did the same, but half a second slower at 1:06.78.
It wasn't Damian Zurek's day after the Pole finished in fourth behind Stolz, De Boo, and Zhongyan Ning's time of 1:07.34. Joep Wennemars' re-skate, which took place 30 minutes after his ruined race, ended with a time of 1:08.46 after an impossible task to skate onto the podium, costing the young Wennemars a dream debut at the Olympics.
21-year-old Wisconsin-born Jordan Stolz won his first Olympic gold medal with his record time of 1:06.28, ahead of Jenning de Boo (1:06.78) and Chinese Zhongyan Ning (1:07.34).
