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Jutta Leerdam, the star with millions of followers puts the'gold around her neck: on the stands even the controversial boyfriend

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At MIlano Cortina 2026 it was Jutta Leerdam night: the Dutch champion won the gold medal in the 1,000-meter speed skating event with an extraordinary time of 1:12.31, a new Olympic record at the Speed Skating Stadium in Milan. Four years after her Beijing 2022 silver medal, Leerdam dominated the final heat, towering ahead of compatriot Femke Kok and Japan&#8217s Miho Takagi and taking the applause of the crowd that flocked to the stands for the speed skating competitions.

Turned 27 years old, Leerdam is also known outside the sporting environment, as evidenced by her 5 million followers on Instagram. The champion’s notoriety has been amplified by her relationship with reinvented boxing youtuber Jake Paul, which has led Leerdam to be one of the most fan-followed stars in Milan Cortina, despite some criticism that has come for her media exposure, to which she responded on the ice with a flawless performance. Paul, who was present in the stands, along with the athlete’s family, appeared moved at the moment of triumph.

Francesco LuciveroHeartaches, tears, records and gold for the stunning Jutta Leerman: photos

Jutta Leerdam wins gold in 1000 meter speed skating at Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics.
The Dutchman signs the Olympic record with an extraordinary time of 1'12"31 at the Speed Skating Stadium in Milan.
Also on the podium are compatriot Femke Kok in second place and Japan’s Miho Takagi in third.
Leerdam was one of the most anticipated athletes due to her huge popularity on social with over five million followers.
The relationship with Jake Paul, U.S. boxer and youtuber, helped amplify her notoriety.

The'Dutchman takes to the ice in the'last pair of the startlist and finishes a perfect race.
Success thrills the crowd, family in the stands and Jake Paul visibly moved.
At 27, Leerdam wins first career Olympic title in the 1000 meters.
She takes revenge in the distance in which she was silver four years ago in Beijing.
Surpasses Femke Kok by 28 cents after the latter had set the new Olympic record.
For the'Netherlands comes a double that unlocks the medal table on long track.
Takagi climbs to the third step of the podium bringing his Olympic haul to eight medals overall.

The'only Italian in the race Maybritt Vigl closes in 25th place, Brittany Bowe at the foot of the podium.

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The race was a rollercoaster of emotions: Kok seemed launched toward gold after bettering Takagi&#8217s Olympic record, but Leerdam turned it all around with an irresistible final lap, finishing a full 28 hundredths ahead. For the Netherlands thus came a one-two finish capable of unlocking the medal table, which had been stuck at zero until this very event. For Takagi, the bronze is certainly not a disappointment: in fact, the Japanese woman brought her Olympic medal total to eight.

Who, on the other hand, can say she is disappointed is Brittany Bowe, world record holder in the 1,000 meters, still without an Olympic gold medal despite six world titles won during a brilliant career. The U.S. finished six tenths short of bronze as the race confirmed Dutch superiority over the distance.

For Italy, the only athlete competing to represent the Tricolor was Maybritt Vigl, who finished in 25th place. The day, however, remains marked by Leerdam’s masterpiece: a gold, a record and a performance that definitively established her as an icon of speed skating and, more generally, of winter sports.

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