Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam delivered a remarkable performance on February 9, capturing Olympic gold in the women’s 1,000 meters and setting a new Olympic record with a time of 1:12.31. The victory secured another medal for the Netherlands and showcased her steady rise among the sport’s elite. Her teammate Femke Kok claimed silver with 1:12.59, while Japan’s Miho Takagi, the event’s previous Olympic champion, earned bronze. The competition was intense, with Kok briefly holding the record before Leerdam’s final run pushed the limits even further.
Emotions ran high as Leerdam crossed the finish line, visibly overwhelmed by the achievement. Watching from the stands, her fiancé Jake Paul celebrated with tears of pride as the crowd cheered the historic moment. Afterward, Leerdam skated to the sideboards, sharing a heartfelt exchange by blowing a kiss and forming a heart with her hands, marking a personal and memorable highlight to accompany her professional success.
Leerdam’s journey to this victory has been marked by steady progress and determination. After earning silver at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, she continued building momentum through strong performances in European championships and World Cup competitions leading into the current Olympic season. Her growing fan base and consistent results made her one of the favorites heading into the event.
Following the race, Paul shared his excitement online, praising Leerdam’s dedication and celebrating what he described as one of the proudest moments of his life. Their relationship, which became public in 2023, has often been highlighted by mutual support for each other’s careers. For Leerdam, however, the spotlight remained on years of discipline and effort paying off in a defining Olympic triumph that will stand as one of the greatest milestones of her career.
