The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 have already delivered their share of unforgettable moments, but none more electrifying than Jutta Leerdam’s record-breaking performance in the women’s 1,000-meter speed skating final on February 9. The 27-year-old Dutch sensation, cheered on by her fiancé Jake Paul and a roaring Orange Army, powered to gold in a race that will be talked about for years to come. Not only did she seize the top spot on the podium, but she also set a new Olympic record with a blistering time of 1 minute, 12.31 seconds, cementing her legacy as one of the sport’s brightest stars.
Leerdam’s journey to this golden moment has been nothing short of remarkable. Hailing from 's-Gravenzande, Netherlands, she first strapped on skates at age 11, transitioning from field hockey to the ice with a determination that quickly set her apart. By the time she was crowned champion at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Helsinki, it was clear she was destined for greatness. Fast-forward to 2026, and Leerdam now boasts 12 world championship medals—including six golds—and millions of fans following her every move both on and off the rink.
But it was the showdown in Milano Cortina that truly showcased her grit. The final pairing saw Leerdam face off against Japan’s Miho Takagi, the defending Olympic champion from Beijing 2022. Just moments earlier, her Dutch teammate Femke Kok had shattered the existing Olympic record with a time of 1:12.59, setting the stage for a dramatic finale. The pressure was palpable, but Leerdam was undaunted. "I knew it was going to be hard, because Femke did a really good time," she later reflected. "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.’"
With every stride, Leerdam edged closer to history. By the 600-meter mark, she was already ahead of Kok’s pace. The crowd, including a visibly emotional Jake Paul, could hardly contain their excitement as Leerdam crossed the finish line, exhausted and overwhelmed. "I couldn’t believe it, but I was also so tired. It was hard to feel something. I couldn’t really stand, I couldn’t really see, I couldn’t do anything," Leerdam admitted. The reality of her achievement only hit home when she saw her name highlighted in green on the scoreboard, signaling her gold medal triumph. "When I saw that green next to my name, I thought, ‘Oh my, this is a dream come true.’"
The significance of this victory wasn’t lost on anyone. Leerdam, who took silver in the same event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, now adds Olympic gold to her already illustrious career. "This is surreal. I still can’t believe it," she said. "It’s just a dream come true." Her journey to the top has been defined by perseverance and a relentless drive to improve, qualities that have endeared her to fans worldwide.
The Dutch dominance was on full display in Milano Cortina, with Femke Kok claiming silver and sharing a heartfelt moment with Leerdam on the podium. "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." The two teammates, fierce rivals on the ice but united in national pride, embraced the magnitude of their 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."
Japan’s Miho Takagi, who took bronze with a time of 1:13.95, was philosophical about her result after a challenging season. "This season was so hard for me. I lost my skating a little bit, so I’m really happy to get a medal in this Olympic Games," Takagi shared. Yet her competitive spirit remains undimmed: "I’m happy with this result, but it’s not enough for me. I try to give my power 100% to the next race." With more events still to come, Takagi will no doubt be one to watch in the days ahead.
Back in the stands, Jake Paul’s support for Leerdam was impossible to miss. The influencer-turned-boxer, who proposed to Leerdam in March 2025, was moved to tears as he watched her historic run. "MY BABY JUST SET THE OLYMPIC WORLD RECORD," he wrote on Instagram, sharing a video of himself sobbing as Leerdam neared the finish line. "I’M SO PROUD OF YOU @juttaleerdam." In another post, he called her victory "one of the most important sporting moments ever," capturing the emotion of a night neither will soon forget.
Leerdam’s success is just one highlight in a Winter Olympics already brimming with drama and achievement. The day before, Team USA’s Breezy Johnson captured the women’s downhill skiing title, earning her country’s first gold of the Games—though not without a twist, as her medal broke off the handle shortly after the ceremony. "I was telling my mom a week ago: You go to your second Olympic Games to win a medal, and you go to your third Games to win the whole damn thing, so it’s really special," Johnson said, reflecting on her journey and the resilience required to reach the summit of her sport.
The Milano Cortina Olympics, running from February 6 to 22, have already delivered a host of memorable moments across disciplines, from figure skating to snowboarding. But for now, all eyes are on Jutta Leerdam, whose golden sprint and new Olympic record have set a new standard for speed skating excellence. As the Games continue, fans and fellow athletes alike will be watching to see what other history-making feats are yet to come.
For Jutta Leerdam, the dream is real, the record is hers, and the world is watching—wondering just how much further she can go.