Winter Olympics Day Recap: Stolz Makes History, Brazil Breaks Through, and Poulin Returns in Style
Just when it seemed like the Winter Olympics had already delivered its share of surprises, Saturday came along and reminded us why we watch: for the unexpected, the historic, and the downright jaw-dropping. From a South American athlete standing atop the podium for the first time ever, to a goalie letting in a goal from center ice, to Jordan Stolz continuing his gold-medal tear - the day had a little bit of everything.
Let’s break down the biggest stories from a wild day at the Games.
Jordan Stolz Doubles Up in Speedskating, Makes Olympic History
Jordan Stolz isn’t just skating fast - he’s skating into the record books. The 21-year-old American claimed his second gold medal of the Games with a blistering 33.77-second run in the men’s 500-meter speedskating final. That time not only earned him the top spot on the podium, it also broke the Olympic record and came within striking distance of the world mark.
Stolz had already secured gold in the 1,000 meters earlier in the week, and with Saturday’s win, he becomes the first man to sweep the 500m and 1,000m at a single Olympics since 1980. That’s elite company - and he’s doing it with a mix of power, precision, and seemingly endless stamina.
What’s more, Stolz didn’t lead from start to finish. He was actually trailing his heat partner, Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands, after the first 100 meters.
But Stolz kicked into another gear over the final stretch, leaving the rest of the field chasing shadows. De Boo (33.88) and Canada’s Laurent Dubreuil (34.26) both finished under the previous Olympic record of 34.32, but it still wasn’t enough to catch the American phenom.
“He just doesn’t get tired,” said Dubreuil, who knows all too well how unforgiving the 500m can be - he missed the podium by 0.03 seconds in 2022. “I really don’t understand how that’s possible for somebody.”
Right now, it feels like Stolz is rewriting what’s possible.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen Delivers Brazil’s First Winter Olympic Gold
In the world of alpine skiing, the usual suspects tend to dominate: Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France. But on Saturday, a new nation joined the elite club of gold medalists in the men’s giant slalom - and it came from a continent not typically associated with snow.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, racing for Brazil, stunned the field to win the two-run event with a combined time of 2 minutes, 25 seconds. That was more than half a second clear of silver medalist Marco Odermatt of Switzerland, the reigning Olympic champ.
Born in Norway to a Brazilian mother, Braathen previously competed for Norway before switching allegiance. His first run was nearly flawless - the fastest of the field by almost a full second. That cushion proved critical, as his second run ranked only 11th, but it was enough to hold on for the win.
For Brazil, it’s a moment of Olympic history: the first Winter Games gold for a South American nation. For Braathen, it’s a career-defining triumph. And for Odermatt, who added a second silver to go with his bronze in the super-G, it was another strong showing - though perhaps not the golden haul many expected.
Still, three medals and a fourth-place finish in the downhill? That’s a resume most skiers would be thrilled with.
Poulin Returns, Canada Rolls into Women’s Hockey Semis
Marie-Philip Poulin is back - and she wasted no time reminding everyone why she’s one of the greatest to ever lace up skates for Canada.
Returning from a knee injury that sidelined her for two games, Poulin scored in Canada’s 5-1 quarterfinal win over Germany. The goal was her 18th in Olympic play, tying her with the legendary Hayley Wickenheiser for the most in Canadian women’s hockey history.
With Poulin back in the mix, Canada looks locked in as they head to the semifinals, where they’ll face Switzerland - fresh off a tight 1-0 win over Finland.
U.S. Men’s Hockey Overcomes Early Scare Against Denmark
The U.S. men’s team stayed perfect in group play with a 6-3 win over Denmark, but the game had its share of drama - and one moment that left fans and players alike scratching their heads.
Late in the first period, Denmark’s Nicholas B. Jensen launched a shot from near center ice that somehow found its way past American goalie Jeremy Swayman. Yes, that Jeremy Swayman - the same one who helped the Boston Bruins to an NHL-record 65 wins just a few seasons ago.
It was the second time in the opening frame that the U.S. found itself trailing, after conceding an early goal from close range. But the Americans responded with poise, gradually taking control and pulling away for the win.
They’ll head into Sunday’s final preliminary-round game with a 2-0 record and momentum on their side.
Other Notable Moments
- Norway Dominates Women’s Cross-Country Relay: Norway’s women’s team cruised to gold in the 4×7.5-kilometer relay, beating a strong Swedish squad by more than 50 seconds. Sweden had been dominant coming in, with three golds, three silvers, and a bronze already in the bag - but Norway made a statement on the snow.
- Slovenia’s Domen Prevc Wins Big in Ski Jumping: Prevc soared to his second gold of the Games, taking the men’s large hill title after already helping Slovenia win the mixed normal hill team event. Slovenia continues to punch above its weight in ski jumping, and Prevc is leading the charge.
Saturday at the Winter Olympics gave us a little bit of everything: record-breaking speed, historic firsts, and the kind of comeback stories that define the Games. And with more action still to come, it’s clear we haven’t seen the last of the drama.