Jutta Leerdam Wins Olympic Gold: Emotional Reactions & Celebrations

Dutch Speedskater Jutta Leerdam Wins Olympic Gold, Sets New Record

Monday, February 9, 2026 – Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands claimed gold in the women’s 1000m speed skating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 1:12.31. The victory was marked by an outpouring of emotion, particularly from her fiancé, boxer and internet personality Jake Paul, who was visibly moved while watching from the stands.

Leerdam’s performance surpassed that of her Dutch teammate, Femke Kok, and Miho Takagi of Japan, securing her first Olympic gold medal. She previously won silver in the 1000m at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, where Takagi set the previous Olympic record.

The scene following Leerdam’s win was one of jubilation. She blew a kiss to Paul from the ice, according to the Associated Press, and later celebrated with him, allowing him to lift her into his arms as she playfully bit down on her gold medal. Paul documented the moment on Instagram, expressing his immense pride.

“MY BABY JUST SET THE OLYMPIC WORLD RECORD,” Paul wrote in a post accompanying a video of the celebration. “IM SO PROUD OF YOU @juttaleerdam.”

In another Instagram Reel, Paul described the event as “one of the most important sporting moments ever,” adding, “words can’t describe how proud of you I am.” Reports indicate Paul was overcome with tears as he celebrated with Leerdam’s family.

Leerdam, 27, described the experience as overwhelming. “I couldn’t believe it, but I was also so tired,” she told reporters. “It was hard to feel something. I couldn’t really stand, I couldn’t really see, I couldn’t do anything.” She emphasized her determination to push through any fatigue during the race, stating, “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.’”

The race consisted of 15 heats, with Leerdam competing in the final heat against defending Olympic and world champion Miho Takagi. Leerdam’s victory pushed Takagi to third place with a time of 1:13.95.

“When I saw that green (color) next to my name, I thought, ‘Oh my, this is a dream come true,’” Leerdam said. “I really couldn’t believe it, and I still can’t. That I peaked at the right moment is just insane. I am so, so happy.”

This win represents a culmination of years of dedication for Leerdam, who had been striving for gold since her silver medal performance in Beijing four years prior. Her time of 1:12.31 was nearly a full second faster than Takagi’s winning time in 2022.

The victory was celebrated widely, with many acknowledging the significance of the moment. One report described the event as a “magical Monday” for Leerdam, noting her emotional state and the overwhelming joy of the achievement. She reportedly admitted she couldn’t stop looking at her gold medal, describing the feeling as “really indescribable.”