MILAN, Feb 11 - Jordan Stolz lived up to expectations as he charged to the men's 1,000 metres gold on Wednesday, delivering the United States' first speed skating title of the Milano Cortina Olympics, as Joep Wennemars' re-skate injected late drama into the event.

The 21-year-old Stolz blazed to an Olympic-record time of one minute 6.28 seconds, finishing 0.50 seconds clear of Dutchman Jenning de Boo, with China's Ning Zhongyan taking bronze.