Jutta Leerdam Breaks Olympic Record to Claim 1000m Speed Skating Gold at Milano Cortina 2026

Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands claimed Olympic gold in the women's 1000m speed skating event on Monday evening in Milano Cortina, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 1:12.31. The 25-year-old Dutch star finally captured her first Olympic gold medal after earning silver in this same event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Her victory came with fiancé Jake Paul, the controversial boxer and social media personality, watching from the stands at the Olympic Oval.

Leerdam's record-breaking performance edged out her Dutch teammate Femke Kok, who had briefly held the Olympic record herself just moments earlier with a time of 1:12.59. The Dutch one-two finish marked a dominant display for the Netherlands in speed skating, a sport where the country has historically excelled at the Winter Olympics. Japan's Miho Takagi, the defending champion from Beijing 2022, claimed the bronze medal with a time of 1:13.95, adding another medal to her impressive Olympic collection.

The victory was particularly sweet for Leerdam, who has been one of the world's most consistent performers in women's speed skating over the past four years. After settling for silver in Beijing, she entered the Milano Cortina Games as one of the favorites in the 1000m distance. Her preparation and dedication paid off as she delivered a near-flawless race, maintaining excellent technique through the corners and generating powerful straightaway speed that her competitors couldn't match.

Following her victory, Leerdam congratulated her teammate Kok on social media, emphasizing their shared achievement for the Netherlands. "So proud of this Dutch one-two finish," Leerdam wrote. "We pushed each other to be better every day in training, and today we both showed what we're capable of on the biggest stage." The camaraderie between the Dutch teammates has been a hallmark of their country's speed skating program, which continues to produce world-class talent generation after generation.

Leerdam's gold medal adds to the Netherlands' growing medal count at the Milano Cortina Games, reinforcing the country's status as a powerhouse in speed skating events. With her Olympic record performance, Leerdam has not only achieved her career dream but has also set a new benchmark for future competitors in the women's 1000m. She will look to add more medals in her remaining events as the Winter Olympics continue through mid-February.

The atmosphere at the Olympic Oval was electric as Leerdam crossed the finish line and saw her record-breaking time appear on the scoreboard. The achievement represents the culmination of years of sacrifice, training, and determination for the Dutch speedskater, who has balanced her athletic career with significant media attention due to her relationship with Paul. Now, as an Olympic champion, Leerdam has cemented her legacy as one of the great speed skaters of her generation.