- Stolz heads into Milano Cortina at -800 following a two-year run without a loss in World Cup 1000m competition.
- Zurek’s +650 price comes off a dominant European title run in front of his home crowd last month.
- Wennemars sits at +2200 after taking the world championship last spring in a field that included Stolz.
MILANO CORTINA – The men’s 1000m speed skating odds for the Winter Olympics tell a straightforward story: Jordan Stolz stands as the overwhelming favorite for gold. The American’s recent performances have bookmakers convinced, with three skaters emerging as the primary options for potential wagers.
Top Betting Options:
- Jordan Stolz (USA): -800
- Damien Zurek (POL): +650
- Joep Wennemars (NED): +2200
The race goes off on Wednesday at 1:30 PM, and while most expect Stolz to dominate, legal sports betting markets show that Olympic upsets can always happen.
Jordan Stolz: The Prohibitive Favorite
Jordan Stolz carries the weight of being the 1000-meter favorite heading into Milano Cortina. The 21-year-old from Wisconsin hasn’t tasted defeat in a World Cup 1000m since mid-2023. His 1:05.37 world record from January 2024 puts him about two seconds clear of the entire field.
Although those figures represent about a 90% chance of winning, the -800 odds imply spending $800 merely to get $100. What really stands out is Stolz claiming three world championship medals last year while still getting over pneumonia. That kind of performance under those circumstances shows what he’s made of. The payout might be thin, but this is as close to a lock as you’ll find.
Damien Zurek: The European Champion
Polish skater Damien Zurek comes in at +650 after taking the European title last month. Racing in front of his hometown crowd in Tomaszów Mazowiecki, Zurek put up 1:08.55 – good enough to beat the silver medalist by nearly a full second while coming 0.13 seconds short of Stolz’s mark at that track.
Zurek’s capacity to function well under duress has paid off, especially with his most recent work on mental preparedness. A $100 stake would yield $650 in profit for individuals looking at Olympic betting sites. Although it doesn’t seem likely, Zurek’s recent performance indicates he could take advantage if the favorite falters.
Joep Wennemars: The Long Shot with Pedigree
Joep Wennemars out of the Netherlands comes in at +2200 – the biggest long shot here. Last April, the 22-year-old grabbed the world championship crown with a 1:08.05 time that beat out Jenning de Boo and even Stolz himself. What’s intriguing is that his father, Erben Wennebars, stood on top of that same podium 21 years earlier.
The world champion status that Wennemars achieved after undergoing knee surgery is an example of championship attitude. In the event that a $100 wager is successful, bettors utilizing Bovada and comparable services would receive $2,200. Even though Stolz is still the overwhelming favorite, Wennemars is a strong long shot because he has already shown that he can prevail at the greatest stakes.
