Under the bright lights of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Dutch speed skating sensation Jutta Leerdam has once again captured the world’s attention—both for her electrifying performances on the ice and the headlines swirling around her off it. On Sunday, February 15, 2026, Leerdam clinched her second medal of these Games, earning silver in the women’s 500-meter speed skating event with a blistering time of 37.15 seconds. It was a race that had fans on the edge of their seats, not least among them her fiancé, YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who watched anxiously from the stands alongside his mother, Pam.
Leerdam’s silver finish was nothing short of impressive, but it was her Dutch teammate Femke Kok who stole the show, setting an Olympic record with a time of 36.49 seconds to seize the gold. Japan’s Miho Takagi rounded out the podium with a bronze-winning time of 37.27 seconds, while American favorite and reigning Olympic champion Erin Jackson finished just outside the medals in fifth place at 37.32 seconds. As the scoreboard flashed, Leerdam’s initial lead was quickly eclipsed by Kok’s stunning performance, but the Dutch star remained all smiles, soaking in the moment and the raucous applause from her supporters.
For Leerdam, this silver medal adds to an already glittering Olympic campaign. Earlier in the Games, she captured gold in the 1,000-meter event, setting an Olympic record with a time of 1:12.31—a feat that had her and Paul both in tears of joy. "She’s so amazing, wow. Another medal, you inspire us all, Jutta Leerdam," Paul gushed on Instagram after her silver medal finish was confirmed. The emotional rollercoaster was evident in the stands as Paul, visibly moved, applauded wildly and shared candid videos of his reactions with fans worldwide. "First, she’s in first," he told his mother as Leerdam crossed the line, only to see Kok’s record-breaking run moments later.
Leerdam herself was gracious in defeat, praising her teammate Kok and reflecting on her own journey. "She’s always better at the 500. So for me years ago I didn’t really do good on a 500, so I kept growing and growing and growing and then now I put a big silver. It’s just everything I wanted," she told reporters. Leerdam also admitted to feeling a wave of relief after securing silver, saying, "I was like, 'Oh, whoa, I have silver' so, very happy." Her sportsmanship was on full display as she consoled Kok after their earlier 1,000-meter showdown, demonstrating the camaraderie that defines Dutch speed skating.
This latest medal marks a remarkable turnaround for Leerdam, who faced heartbreak just weeks before the Games. In late December 2025, she crashed out of qualifying for her signature 1,000-meter event, leaving her Olympic hopes in jeopardy. The Dutch Olympic Committee ultimately placed their faith in her, selecting her for the team—and Leerdam repaid that trust in spectacular fashion by storming to gold and following it up with a hard-fought silver.
Leerdam’s journey at these Games is not just about medals. The 27-year-old has faced a fair share of criticism and controversy, particularly regarding her conduct during the Olympics. She drew headlines for traveling to Milan-Cortina via private jet rather than with her Dutch teammates and for opting out of the opening ceremony, choosing instead to watch from afar. Former footballer and TV pundit Johan Derksen didn’t mince words, stating, "She’s already living like a millionaire, with private jets and everything. Her behaviour is horrible to me, like that of a diva. If I were her coach, I wouldn’t tolerate that." Such comments have fueled debate in the Netherlands, with some fans suggesting that Leerdam’s growing fame—bolstered by her relationship with Paul and a lucrative modeling contract with Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS brand—has changed her demeanor.
Yet, those close to Leerdam point to her unwavering dedication and humility on the ice. After her gold medal victory, she was quick to console silver medalist Kok, a gesture that did not go unnoticed by fans or the media. And while her social media presence is formidable—nearly six million followers on Instagram—Leerdam insists that her focus remains on her sport. Reflecting on her relationship with Paul, she shared in the Netflix documentary "Countdown: Paul vs Tyson," "I never, ever expected to date him, like never. Of course, I didn’t know a lot about him. I could only scroll on his Instagram and form an opinion like the whole world does."
The Paul-Leerdam partnership has certainly added a new layer of intrigue to both their careers. The pair began dating in April 2023 after a chance exchange on Instagram led to a blossoming romance. They became engaged in March 2025, and since then, Leerdam has become a fixture at Paul’s boxing matches, just as he’s become her loudest cheerleader in the speed skating arena. Their relationship, however, hasn’t been without its share of public scrutiny. During these Olympics, a fabricated social media post allegedly from Paul—suggesting Leerdam add an American flag to her celebration—spread like wildfire, only to be debunked by Paul’s business partner Nakisa Bidarian. "This is a fabricated post," Bidarian clarified, emphasizing that Leerdam does not have an X account and that Paul never made such a comment.
Paul himself has faced his own share of ups and downs in recent months. After suffering a knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua in December 2025, questions swirled about his boxing future. But according to Bidarian, Paul is focused on making a comeback between August and November 2026. For now, though, he’s content to bask in Leerdam’s Olympic glory, sharing sweet moments of celebration and support with his fiancée.
For the Netherlands, Leerdam’s silver adds to a growing medal tally—11 in total as of February 15, 2026—cementing their status as a speed skating powerhouse. With just a week left in the Games, Dutch fans are hoping for even more podium finishes from their star athletes.
As the celebrations continue in Milan-Cortina, Jutta Leerdam stands as a testament to resilience, talent, and the sometimes dizzying intersection of sport and celebrity. Whether she’s racing for gold or navigating the glare of the spotlight, “The Flying Dutchwoman” continues to inspire—on and off the ice.