The orange wave swept through the Milano Speed Skating Stadium on February 9, 2026, as Dutch speedskater Jutta Leerdam delivered a performance for the ages, clinching her first Olympic gold medal in the women’s 1,000 meters at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The 27-year-old, already a household name in the Netherlands and beyond, shattered the Olympic record with a blistering time of 1 minute, 12.31 seconds, surpassing both her teammate Femke Kok’s earlier mark and the previous record set in Beijing by Japan’s Miho Takagi. But it wasn’t just the speed or the medals that had fans buzzing—it was the emotion, the drama, and the presence of Leerdam’s fiancé, influencer and boxer Jake Paul, cheering her on from the stands.
Leerdam’s journey to the top step of the podium has been anything but ordinary. Four years ago, she stood in Takagi’s shadow, taking silver in Beijing as Takagi set the Olympic record. This time, the tables turned. Facing off against Takagi in the final heat, Leerdam looked composed from the start, unfazed by the raucous, orange-clad crowd and the weight of expectation. She skated with a steady rhythm, never faltering, even as Kok’s new record—set just two heats prior—loomed large. In the end, Leerdam powered across the finish line, pumping her arms and letting out a triumphant shout as tears streaked her mascara. "My makeup was everywhere," she later laughed, gold medal around her neck and Jake Paul by her side. "But that’s a good thing, I think. It was surreal."
Kok, who had briefly held the Olympic record with a time of 1:12.59, finished just over a quarter of a second behind to claim silver. "I knew it was a good time, so maybe it was enough for gold," Kok admitted after the race. "But she was just a little bit faster. I can only respect that." Miho Takagi, the defending champion from Japan, settled for bronze, her time not enough to match the Dutch duo’s historic pace. The American contingent saw Brittany Bowe, the 1,000 meters world record holder since 2019, finish fourth in what she confirmed would be her final Olympic appearance at age 37. Erin Jackson, gold medalist in the 500 meters at the previous Games, placed sixth after battling injuries in the lead-up to Milan.
Leerdam’s gold wasn’t just a personal triumph—it was a testament to her dominance in the 1,000 meters this season. She has won three of the four World Cup races at the distance, including a victory over Kok in Germany in January. Her trophy case already boasted 12 world championship medals, with six golds—two of them in the 1,000 meters, earned in 2020 and 2023. But the Olympic title had eluded her until now. "It feels very amazing. Just like a cherry on top of my career, basically. It’s amazing. It’s perfect," Leerdam said, soaking in the moment as the Dutch fans celebrated wildly in the stands.
Of course, much of the global spotlight also shone on Jake Paul, whose presence at the rink brought a wave of attention from outside the traditional speedskating world. Paul, 29, is no stranger to the limelight himself—first as a YouTuber, then as a professional boxer, recently recovering from a broken jaw suffered in a bout with Anthony Joshua last December. He’s known for his brash social media presence and high-profile fights, including a memorable matchup against Mike Tyson in 2024. But in Milan, Paul was simply a fiancé, visibly emotional as he watched Leerdam’s race from his second-row seat, alternately clapping and wringing his hands in nervous anticipation.
When Leerdam’s victory was sealed, she made her way to the boards, blowing kisses and forming a heart with her hands toward Paul, who was in tears. The couple shared a heartfelt embrace, and Paul quickly took to social media to share his joy. "Juttttttttttaaaaaaaa. I can’t stop crying. You did it my love. Olympic Gold. God is great and so are you," he posted on X, summing up the pride and emotion of the moment. The two have been public about their relationship since April 2023, announcing their engagement on Instagram in March 2025. Their combined social media following is staggering—Leerdam has 5.3 million Instagram followers, while Paul boasts more than 28 million—bringing unprecedented attention to the sport of speedskating.
"She’s one of one. She obviously has a platform that nobody else has had in the speedskating world," said Brittany Bowe, reflecting on Leerdam’s influence both on and off the ice. "And I have to just give my hat off to her and give her her flowers today. I can’t even imagine the amount of pressure and expectation that has been put on her the past couple of years—and then, really, in this moment. And so for her to be able to deliver an Olympic-record performance like that is really commendable. … I know the pressure, the stress, everything, it takes to be able to fight for that."
Leerdam herself acknowledged the unique scrutiny that comes with her and Paul’s public profiles. "He felt everything with me," she said of Paul’s emotional investment in her training and the pressure that comes with living in the spotlight. The couple’s busy careers—Leerdam traveling for competitions across Europe, Paul bouncing between fights and business ventures—mean they often have to support each other from afar. But on this night in Milan, they were together, celebrating a moment that was years in the making.
The race itself was a showcase of speed and nerves. Leerdam’s lap splits were remarkable, her technique flawless as she stayed ahead of Kok’s record pace. The Dutch fans, a sea of orange, erupted as she crossed the finish, knowing they were witnessing history. The temporary arena, built specifically for these Olympics, has already seen three new Olympic records in three speedskating events—a testament to both the ice and the caliber of athletes competing.
Looking ahead, Leerdam isn’t done yet. She’s scheduled to compete in the 500 meters on February 15, seeking to add another medal to her growing collection. Kok and Takagi will also be back on the ice, while Bowe and Jackson look to make their marks in their remaining events. For Bowe, the team pursuit holds special meaning as she prepares to retire, while Jackson aims to recapture the magic of her 2022 gold.
As the celebrations continued into the night, it was clear that Leerdam’s gold was more than just a victory for herself or even for the Netherlands. It was a moment that brought the world’s eyes to speedskating, thanks in no small part to her partnership with Paul and their shared journey. The pressure, the tears, the cheers—it all added up to an Olympic memory that won’t soon be forgotten. And as Leerdam prepares for her next race, the skating world—and a legion of new fans—will be watching closely, eager to see what she does next.