- SUPER BOWL. Jake Paul takes aim at NFL and Bad Bunny for hating America, but fans came with receipts
- WINTER OLYMPICS. Olympic tension grows as Jutta Leerdam's Jake Paul link divides Netherlands
Jutta Leerdam delivered the defining moment of her career at the 2026 Winter Olympics, claiming gold in the women's 1,000 meters with an Olympic-record performance in Milan Cortina, as her fiancé Jake Paul watched on from the stands in tears.
For the Dutch speed skating superstar, the victory marked a long-awaited upgrade from the silver medal she earned at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
The moment silenced months of scrutiny surrounding her preparation and off-ice choices. Coming into the event, Leerdam was widely regarded as the skater to beat.
The 27-year-old had been the form athlete over the distance throughout the season and entered the final as one of the strongest gold-medal favorites. Still, the pressure was immense.
She was placed in the final pairing, skating head-to-head against Miho Takagi of Japan, the same rival who denied her gold four years earlier.
How Leerdam clinched gold for the Netherlands
Moments before Leerdam took the ice, her Netherlands teammate Femke Kok set a new Olympic record, raising the bar even higher.
To win gold, Leerdam would need not only to beat Takagi, but also to eclipse that mark.
She responded with a flawless race, powering through the final lap to stop the clock at 1:12.31 and secure the gold medal. As she crossed the line, cameras caught Leerdam wiping away tears, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the moment.
Watching from the stands was Paul, who had been vocal in his support throughout the buildup.
He posted on X.com after watching her achieve her dreams: "Juttttttttttaaaaaaaa. I can't stop crying. You did it my love. Olympic Gold. God is great and so are you."
Ahead of the race, the YouTuber-turned-boxer posted a message that quickly went viral: "Today is your day baby. You've worked your whole life for this. We all love and support you so much go get 'em champ."
He also shared content from the venue encouraging viewers in the United States to tune in, before breaking down emotionally as Leerdam clinched gold.
The triumph was made even more remarkable by the road that led there. Leerdam was a discretionary selection for the Netherlands Olympic team after crashing during national trials in December, a moment that briefly put her Olympic participation in doubt.
Her inclusion raised eyebrows at the time, but her performance in Milan Cortina validated the decision emphatically.
A controversial arrival after Opening Ceremony boycott
In the days leading up to the race, Leerdam also faced criticism for skipping the Opening Ceremony.
She later acknowledged the moment on social media, sharing an image of the Netherlands team marching and adding the national flag with a heart emoji.
Her Olympic arrival had already drawn attention after she traveled on a private jet, complete with custom decorations and supportive messages. Paul commented on the post, writing, "Time to shine."
Not everyone back home was impressed. Former Dutch soccer player turned analyst Johan Derksen openly criticized her, saying: "She should want it of her own accord. She's already living like a millionaire, with private jets and everything.
"Her behaviour is horrible to me, like that of a diva. If I were her coach, I wouldn't tolerate that. Gradually the whole of the Netherlands is starting to get a bit fed up with her behaviour."
On the ice, however, Leerdam delivered the perfect response. With Olympic gold secured and a record-breaking time etched into history, the moment belonged entirely to her and Paul, watching on as years of work culminated in a career-defining victory.