Dutch speed skating star Jutta Leerdam, fiancée of Jake Paul, sets record for gold medal at Winter Olympics
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Dutch figure skater Jutta Leerdam lived up to the high expectations placed on her on Monday and captured the 1,000-meter speed skating gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
Leerdam, the fiancee of boxer Jake Paul, set an Olympic record with a time of 1:12.31. She eclipsed the record set by her Dutch teammate Femke Kok moments before she hit the ice.
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Jutta Leerdam celebrates winning the gold medal in the women’s 1,000 meter speed skating race at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
The 27-year-old speed skating star cried as she skated around the rink, waving to her friends and family in the stands. Paul was crying as he celebrated with his family. It is Leerdam’s first Olympic gold medal and second Olympic medal overall.
She went from almost missing out on the Olympic team to calling herself a champion.
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Jake Paul cries after his fiancée, Jutta Leerdam, won the gold medal in the women’s 1,000-meter speed skating at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Kok led the way just ahead of her with a time of 1:12.59. She won the silver medal and is expected to compete for a gold medal in the 500-meter race later in the Games.
Japan’s Miho Takagi finished in third place with a time of 1:13.95.
American Erin Jackson was in first place before the rest of the couples began. But his time of 1:15.00 fell quickly. Teammate Brittany Bowe finished fourth, just behind Takagi with a time of 1:14.55.
Jutta Leerdam in shock after winning gold at the Winter Olympics, in Milan, Monday, February 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
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Team USA only has two medals so far during the Winter Olympics: both gold.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor at News Digital.