American speedskater Jordan Stolz is drawing comparisons to Michael Phelps as he prepares for the upcoming Winter Olympics, while globally, political and cultural events unfolded, including a planned shutdown of the Kennedy Center and transitions in Costa Rica and Thailand. Stolz, a native of Kewaskum, Wisconsin, is poised to elevate speedskating into mainstream consciousness, much like Eric Heiden, Dan Jansen, and Bonnie Blair did in the past, according to Time.
Despite his potential, Stolz experiences relative anonymity in the United States. "Walk into a Piggly Wiggly," Stolz told Time, "nobody knows who you are." In contrast, he enjoys recognition in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands, where speedskating is highly popular. "I feel like every KLM flight I get on, all the flight attendants know me," Stolz said, noting the preferential treatment he receives.
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump announced plans to shut down the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts for two years starting in the summer, Vox reported. Trump claimed the shutdown would allow for "Construction, Revitalization, and Complete R," following a series of boycotts and cancellations.
In Costa Rica, right-wing populist Laura Fernández won the presidential election in a landslide, vowing to address violence and continue economic growth, according to multiple news sources. Anutin Charnvirakul became Thailand's new Prime Minister after his predecessor was removed for ethical misconduct, with his political future to be decided in an upcoming general election, Time reported.
Other global developments included FIFA President Gianni Infantino apologizing for a joke about British football fans at the Qatar World Cup, Time reported. The mascots for the 2026 Winter Olympics were also unveiled, according to Fortune.
In the tech world, a new platform called Moltbook, designed exclusively for chatbots, has emerged, offering insights into the capabilities and potential of AI agents, Fortune reported.
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