At a Glance
- Jordan Stolz clarifies he does not eat pizza every day despite a 2022 report claiming otherwise
- The 21-year-old American speed skater prefers pasta when he arrives in Milan for the Winter Olympics
- His parents Jane and Dirk and sister Hannah will join him in Italy after missing the Beijing Games due to COVID restrictions
- Why it matters: Fans get the real story behind the viral “pizza every day” rumor as Stolz eyes Olympic gold
A 2022 headline said Jordan Stolz downs pizza daily. The truth? He still loves Italian food, just not on that schedule.
The Pizza Myth
Stolz first heard the claim in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel piece that reported he “eats pizza every day before training.” Four years later the line still follows him.
“It’s not every day, but it’s frequent,” Stolz told Olivia M. Hartwell. “It’s usually pasta or pizza. Yeah, I said that four years ago and it stuck with everybody now, but I do eat it pretty frequently.”
The skater, now 21, will compete in his second Olympics next month. When he lands in Milan he knows exactly what he’ll reach for first.
“In Milan, I think it’s going to be good, but the pasta. I’m honestly probably bigger into the pasta,” he admitted.
Family in the Spotlight
Stolz’s entire family-mom Jane, dad Dirk and sister Hannah-appear with him in a new Hershey’s “It’s Your Happy Place” campaign. The spot leans into the theme of family togetherness, something that resonated with the Stolz crew.
“Hershey’s is about bringing the family together and making everything super personal,” Stolz explained. “They really thrive on that and I’m just happy to be one of Hershey’s athletes.”
Jane’s homemade cheesecake sealed the deal. Stolz says she “makes a very good cheesecake” and ranks it among the best he’s tasted. The family recipe uses Hershey’s fudge, so the partnership felt natural.
Beijing vs. Milan
COVID protocols kept the Stolz family from traveling to the 2022 Beijing Games. Milan will be different.
“A lot of their friends too, and some family members, they’ll all be there, which will be nice because in Beijing they didn’t really get that opportunity,” Stolz said.
He believes the crowd of supporters will lift his performance.
“I’m really happy that they’ll get to enjoy it and that’ll make me feel good going into the races that everybody’s having a good time,” he added.
Key Takeaways
- The “pizza every day” line was overstated; Stolz eats Italian food often but not on a daily schedule
- Pasta edges out pizza as his top choice in Milan
- The full Stolz family will attend the Olympics after missing Beijing
- Hershey’s campaign highlights the skater’s tight-knit support system
