History was made on the ice at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics as Dutch speed skating sensation Jutta Leerdam delivered a breathtaking performance to seize gold in the women’s 1000-meter race. On February 9, Leerdam, just 27 years old and already a six-time world champion, blazed across the finish line in an astonishing 1 minute, 12.31 seconds, setting a brand-new Olympic record and etching her name into the annals of sporting greatness.
The atmosphere inside the Milano Speed Skating Stadium was electric, with fans on the edge of their seats. Among the loudest cheers came from Leerdam’s fiancé, American influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who was a visible presence in the stands. His emotional reaction was captured for the world to see—tears streaming down his face as his partner crossed the line. "MY BABY JUST SET THE OLYMPIC WORLD RECORD," Jake Paul wrote in an Instagram post on February 9, adding, "I’M SO PROUD OF YOU @juttaleerdam." He later called her win "one of the most important sporting moments ever."
But Leerdam’s journey to this gold was anything but straightforward. In the final pairing of the night, she faced off against Japan’s Miho Takagi, the defending Olympic champion from Beijing 2022. The stakes were sky-high, especially after her compatriot Femke Kok had just shattered the Olympic record in the penultimate race with a time of 1:12.59. Leerdam, watching from the sidelines, knew the bar had been set even higher.
"I knew it was going to be hard, because Femke did a really good time," Leerdam reflected after the race. As the final started, both Leerdam and Takagi set out at a blistering pace. By the 600-meter mark, Leerdam had already edged ahead of Kok’s time. With the Orange Army of Dutch fans roaring her on and Jake Paul’s encouragement echoing from the stands, Leerdam powered through the pain barrier. "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,’" she revealed, underscoring the mental fortitude behind her record-breaking sprint.
When she finally crossed the finish line, exhaustion nearly overwhelmed her. "I couldn’t believe it, but I was also so tired," Leerdam said. "It was hard to feel something. I couldn’t really stand, I couldn’t really see, I couldn’t do anything." The realization only hit when she saw the scoreboard’s green light. "When I saw that green next to my name, I thought, ‘Oh my, this is a dream come true.’" Tears flowed freely as the magnitude of her achievement set in. "This is surreal. I still can’t believe it," she admitted. "It’s just a dream come true."
The podium was a proud moment for the Netherlands, with Femke Kok standing beside Leerdam, clutching silver after her own record-breaking effort. Japan’s Miho Takagi, who finished in 1:13.95, took bronze and was gracious in defeat. "This season was so hard for me," Takagi said. "I lost my skating a little bit, so I’m really happy to get a medal in this Olympic Games. I’m happy with this result, but it’s not enough for me. I try to give my power 100% to the next race."
The camaraderie between the Dutch teammates was evident in their warm embrace after the race. Kok described the moment as "a bit of a relief" after both delivered under immense pressure. "We were both under such high pressure, and we really wanted to skate our best races—and that happened," Kok told Olympics.com. "She won. It was an amazing race from her, so I said congratulations and that I have a lot of respect for her." Leerdam congratulated Kok in return, celebrating their Dutch one-two finish. "She told me she was happy for me and that we could do it together—the Netherlands one and two," Kok added. "We’re such a small country, but for the last five or six years we’ve been skating against each other, and with the two of us we’ve taken the level of sprinting in the Netherlands to the next level. It was a special moment that we can shine on the podium together."
For Leerdam, this gold medal is the culmination of a journey that began at age 11, when she first laced up her skates after years of playing field hockey in her hometown of 's-Gravenzande, Netherlands. Her breakthrough came at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Helsinki, where she was crowned champion. Since then, she has amassed an impressive collection of 12 world championship medals, including six golds, and has become a social media influencer with over 5 million followers on Instagram and more than 2 million on TikTok. Her modeling work for brands like Nike and Skims has only added to her profile off the ice.
Leerdam’s Olympic journey has been equally remarkable. She made her debut at the 2022 Beijing Games, winning silver in the 1000m—just behind Takagi—and placing fifth in the 500m. Now, with gold and an Olympic record in hand, she stands atop her sport. Her relationship with Jake Paul, which began after a podcast invitation blossomed into romance, has captured the attention of fans worldwide. The couple got engaged in March 2025, and Paul has been a constant presence by Leerdam’s side throughout the Milano Cortina Games. "Today is your day baby," he wrote on Instagram earlier on February 9. "You’ve worked your whole life for this. We all love and support you so much. Go get em champ."
The 2026 Winter Olympics, held from February 6 to 22 in Milano-Cortina, Italy, have already been packed with memorable moments. Alpine skier Breezy Johnson secured Team USA’s first gold in the women’s downhill on February 8, though her medal infamously broke off the handle after the ceremony. Meanwhile, athletes like Alysa Liu, Jennifer Dodds, Evan Bates, Madison Chock, and Laila Edwards have each contributed to the vibrant tapestry of sporting drama and achievement unfolding across Italy.
As the world watches, Jutta Leerdam’s golden sprint stands out not just for the record books, but for the heart, determination, and sheer joy it brought to fans and fellow athletes alike. With more events on the horizon, the spirit of competition and camaraderie continues to burn bright in Milano-Cortina.