At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, athletes dazzled the world with unforgettable feats, none more so than Dutch long-track speed skater Jutta Leerdam. In her second Olympic appearance, Leerdam captured the spotlight by claiming gold in the 1000m and silver in the 500m, cementing her status as a star of the Games.
Leerdam put on a record-breaking performance in the 1000m event, posting a time of 1:12.31, surpassing Japan’s Miho Takagi’s time of 1:13.83 from Beijing 2022.
Jutta Leerdam’s Sends Out Message of Gratitude After Milan Success
Leerdam is engaged to Jake Paul, the American YouTuber-turned-professional boxer. The couple began dating in 2023, when Paul invited her onto his podcast, and Paul eventually proposed to Leerdam in March 2025 during a tropical vacation.
After her triumphant showing in Milan, Leerdam took to Instagram to share a heartfelt message, expressing gratitude to Paul for his unwavering support.
“The Olympics are over. ???? Before I started this journey, I already won in life by having the most amazing people around me,” she wrote. “Thank you to my fiancé for being there for me, for listening to me talk about this sport you didn’t even know before we met, every single day. For letting me be me and supporting me along this journey. The loving man you are. I love you Jake.”
Her post sparked a wave of reactions, with former Louisiana State University gymnast Olivia Dunne among those who chimed in:
“You’re a ⭐️,”
In her message, Leerdam extended thanks to her coach, Kosta Poltavets, and her father, reflecting on how standing atop the Olympic podium fulfilled a lifelong dream.
Leerdam Gets Candid on Her Record-Breaking 1000m
Leerdam burst onto the international scene in 2017 as the World Junior all-round champion, quickly earning a reputation as a rising star. Her ascent continued in 2020 when she captured her first senior world title in the 1000m, solidifying her place among speed skating’s elite.
After winning gold in the 1000m in Milan, Leerdam discussed her record-breaking time in a post-race interview:
“I knew that if during the race I would feel tired, I wasn’t allowed to feel tired. I told myself: ‘You have 80 years to recover from this. You can feel tired after. You don’t want to live with that regret. You fought so hard for this.’ After the finish line I was surprised, very tired and very emotional,” she said, as per the Guardian.
In the 1000m final, Leerdam led a Dutch one-two finish with teammate Femke Kok claiming silver, while Miho Takagi of Japan secured the bronze.