Dutch speed skater and fiancée of YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, Jutta Leerdam, has confessed she remains 'still in shock' after a devastating fall last Friday threatened to derail her Winter Olympic ambitions.
A Crushing Blow in the 1000m
The incident occurred during her signature event, the 1000m distance, at the Olympic qualifying trials. Leerdam slipped and crashed agonisingly into the barriers, scuppering her chance to secure a spot for the Milan 2026 Winter Games in that discipline. Her partner, Jake Paul, was watching from the crowd just a week after his own brutal knockout defeat to Anthony Joshua.
The Remarkable 500m Comeback
Displaying immense resilience, Leerdam returned to the ice just two days later for the 500m qualifier. There, she put her woes firmly behind her, clocking an impressive time of 37.42 seconds to finish second behind the already-qualified Femke Kok. This performance has placed her selection for the Dutch Olympic team firmly in the hands of the national committee, though many expect her to be included.
After staying quiet on social media in the immediate aftermath, Leerdam broke her silence on Monday with an emotional Instagram post. "I will most likely see you at the Olympics in Milan for the 500m!" she wrote. "A very unfortunate moment during my best distance, the 1000m on Friday."
She added, "Now we wait and hope I get the opportunity to skate the distance I’ve won multiple World Cup golds in this season. I’m still in shock, I never had my messages flooded like this before. I feel everyone’s support so much and I’m very grateful."
Paul's Support and Public Reaction
Jake Paul was a visible supporter trackside, giving a thumbs-up to cameras after her 500m race. He later shared a video of Leerdam on his Instagram Story with the caption: 'So proud of you warrior @juttaleerdam'.
Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, Leerdam reflected on her turbulent weekend. "It was a really tough day and a half for me," she explained. "You're feeling so good and riding so hard, then you fall and it's all over. You couldn't finish it, and that's a very frustrating feeling."
She credited her strong mentality for the swift recovery: "You can kind of play the victim, but that's not me. I have to keep going, I wanted to show what I can do in the 500 meters again."
Fans and observers were quick to praise her fortitude online. One supporter on X (formerly Twitter) stated: 'So much respect for Jutta Leerdam. The pressure is so high after her fall on the 1000 meters and then she delivers this on the 500 meters. Hats off!' The sporting world now awaits the final decision from the Dutch selectors for the Milan Games.
