U.S. speed skater Jordan Stolz presented one of his Olympic gold medals to former President Donald Trump during a public event for Wisconsin farmers [1].
The gesture links a historic athletic achievement with a high-profile political figure, highlighting the intersection of sports and regional agricultural support in the U.S. Midwest.
The encounter took place on Feb. 12, 2026 [2], one day after Stolz won the 1,000-meter speed skating event [3]. During his victory on Feb. 11, 2026, Stolz set a new Olympic record with a time of 1:07.03 [4, 5].
Stolz placed the gold medal around Trump's neck at the Wisconsin gathering. Stolz said he wanted to give something back to the people who supported him, especially the farming community that helped him get there [1].
Trump responded to the gift with a joke, saying, "I'm never giving this back" [1].
Event organizers noted the significance of the moment. One organizer said they were proud to see an American athlete bring home a gold medal and share it with the people who helped make it possible [1].
The 1,000-meter gold medal [3] marks a pinnacle in Stolz's career, coming immediately before this public appearance in his home state. The event served as a platform for Stolz to acknowledge the role of the agricultural sector in his personal and professional development, a connection he emphasized during the presentation [1].
“"I'm never giving this back."”
The event demonstrates the symbolic power of Olympic success when leveraged for regional and political outreach. By gifting a gold medal—a rare physical manifestation of global excellence—Stolz explicitly tied his individual achievement to the identity of the Wisconsin farming community and its political leadership.
