Midwest Athletes Setting the Pace on the Road to the Olympics

Jordan Stolz isn’t just a name to watch anymore—he’s the benchmark in speed skating. The 21-year-old phenom from Kewaskum, Wisconsin, has been the standout performer of the 2025–26 Speedskating World Cup, making headlines at every event.

So far this season, in four World Cup competitions, Stolz has racked up 14 wins, breaking track records and dominating multiple distances—a feat that’s rare these days. He kicked off the season in Salt Lake City, grabbing a convincing win in the 1,000 meters and coming within a whisker of his own world record. After that, he swept the sprint events in Calgary, solidifying his role as the anchor of Team USA.

His momentum didn’t slow down in Europe. In Heerenveen, Stolz took gold in the 500, 1,000, and 1,500 meters, showing off the versatility that sets him apart from other skaters. The highlight came in Hamar, Norway, where he snagged five golds, broke three track records, and earned his first victory in the mass start.

Despite illness and a fall in the Milwaukee Olympic qualifiers, he won the 500m and finished 3rd in the 1000m. Stolz had already pre-qualified in the 500m, 1000m, 1500m, and the Mass Start.

Stolz’s journey started far from the international spotlight. Growing up in Kewaskum—a small Wisconsin town with fewer than 3,500 residents—he learned to skate on local rinks and frozen ponds. His rise reflects Wisconsin’s tradition of developing top winter athletes, drawing comparisons to the legendary Eric Heiden, whose five golds at the 1980 Olympics still stand out.

With the Milano Cortina Olympics on the horizon, Stolz is a frontrunner for several medals. For fans back in Wisconsin, his story feels familiar: a hard-working athlete from a small town, built on determination and Midwest grit, now leading the charge on the world stage.

Other Midwest speed skaters with medal potential are Illinois’s Ethan Cepuran, an Olympic bronze medalist in the team pursuit. Cepuran remains a leading contender in long-distance events. Illinois’s Austin Kleba is an Olympian with experience in the 500m and 1000m sprints. Minnesota’s Greta Myers is a former hockey player turned speed skater. Myers has had World Cup success and is actively training for her first Olympic team. Wisconsin’s Kieran Collins is a rising high school talent who is competing in the upcoming U.S. Olympic Long Track Trials in Milwaukee.

Jessie Diggins’s Farewell Season

While Stolz’s career is just taking off, Jessie Diggins is closing out her time on the World Cup circuit in style.

Diggins is already the most decorated American cross-country skier, kicked off the 2025–26 FIS World Cup with a strong showing in the 10-kilometer classic at Ruka, Finland—an event that hasn’t always been her best. She finished second, marking her 80th podium appearance, and reinforcing her status as a major Olympic contender as she prepares for her fourth Games.

A few weeks later, she secured her 30th World Cup win in Trondheim, Norway, taking first place in the 20-kilometer skiathlon (comprised of both classic and freestyle techniques), and added a third-place finish in the 10km skate.

Diggins’s dominant victory in the 2026 Tour de Ski, where she won the overall title for the third time, took place on the same venue as the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Diggins is currently leading the women’s overall World Cup standings and expects to compete in several Olympic events, including the individual sprint, 10 km classic, 20 km skiathlon, team sprint, and possibly the relay and 30 km skate, depending on team strategy and recovery.

Raised skiing the trails near Afton, Minnesota, Diggins has become a global Nordic skiing star. Her résumé includes three Olympic medals, highlighted by the team sprint gold at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. In an interview with Silent Sports magazine, Diggins said her goal is “a podium finish during a team event at the Olympics”—a modest aim for such an accomplished athlete.

Her early results this season show she’s still among the best in distance and skiathlon races, making her farewell tour a celebration of one of the Midwest’s greatest winter sports figures.

Midwest Momentum in U.S. Biathlon

The Midwest isn’t just producing stars in skating and skiing. Wisconsin and Minnesota athletes are also making waves in U.S. biathlon—a sport usually led by Europeans. The Ariens Nordic Biathlon Center has played a key role, serving as a training ground for many of these competitors.

Deedra Irwin, from Pulaski, Wisconsin, continues to be a pillar of the American women’s biathlon team. A three-time U.S. Biathlon Female Athlete of the Year, she and teammate Campbell Wright placed fifth in the single mixed relay in Pokljuka, Slovenia, marking one of the squad’s best results this season. Her reliable shooting and strong skiing make her an Olympic hopeful. On the men’s side, Appleton’s Paul Schommer is a steady relay skier and a respected team leader.

Minnesota athletes are gaining ground, too. Margie Freed from Apple Valley has earned her place on the World Cup team, while Lucinda Anderson from Golden Valley continues to compete against the world’s best, steadily improving. Both are considered rising stars who could break into the top ranks as the season goes on.

Together, these athletes signal a shift in American biathlon. With Wisconsin’s seasoned veterans and Minnesota’s up-and-coming talent, the U.S. team is gathering steam for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics—with the Midwest emerging as a central force behind this movement.