"Worth Flying in on a Private Jet?" Jutta Leerdam Claims Gold in Style, With an Olympic Record as a Bonus [Milano 2026]

[Financial News] Dutch speed skating star Jutta Leerdam, 27, drew both attention and controversy with her flashy choices, arriving at the Olympics on her boyfriend’s private jet and skipping the opening ceremony. Once she stepped onto the ice, however, no criticism could keep up with Leerdam’s speed.
On the 10th (Korea time), at the speed skating stadium in Milan, Italy, Leerdam won the women’s 1000m at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics with a time of 1:12.31, setting a new Olympic record. It was the first gold medal of these Games for the Netherlands.
In the race, Leerdam started in the outer lane of the final 15th pair. After the first 200 meters she was only third with a split of 17.68 seconds, but her late surge made the difference. Rapidly accelerating, she broke the Olympic record of 1:13.19 held by Japan’s Miho Takagi, who took bronze on the day, and secured the gold medal.
Her performance not only ended the Netherlands’ medal drought at these Games, it also gave Leerdam the first Olympic gold medal of her career. This is her second Olympic appearance; at the 2022 Beijing Games she won silver in the 1000m.
At the venue, Leerdam’s boyfriend, YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, cheered her on in person, and the broadcast repeatedly showed him in the stands, drawing even more attention from fans. Leerdam had already made headlines by choosing not to travel with the national team and instead flying to Milan on a private jet arranged by Paul.
She drew further criticism after posting photos on social media from the private jet, which was decorated with Olympic rings and loaded with food, with some accusing her of being "extravagant" and "hurting team cohesion." She also skipped the opening ceremony, citing the need to manage her condition, and shared images of herself watching the event on TV from bed in the athletes’ village, placing herself squarely at the center of controversy.
Leerdam effectively silenced much of the criticism by proving her ability with this race. She is scheduled to compete again in the women’s 500m on the 16th, where she will make another run at a medal.

bng@fnnews.com Kim Hee-sun Reporter