Jutta Leerdam crowns Netherlands’ dominance with 1,000m Olympic gold as Jake Paul watches in tears
Jutta Leerdam delivered a dramatic finish to the women's 1000m speedskating event on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 (ET), resetting the Olympic record and claiming gold in the final pairing. The Dutch star crossed the line in 1: 12. 31, bettering a mark set minutes earlier by a teammate. Her fiancée, jake paul, was visible in the stands and visibly emotional as Leerdam celebrated.
Olympic record and a Dutch one-two
Leerdam's winning time of 1: 12. 31 erased a fresh Olympic standard that had just been posted by her Dutch teammate Femke Kok. Kok took silver, underlining the Netherlands' continued strength in women's sprint distance skating. American Brittany Bowe finished fourth in what is expected to be her final Olympic appearance, while Erin Jackson briefly held the provisional lead before slipping to sixth by the end of the night.
The sequence of record-setting runs — first Kok, then Leerdam — made for an electrifying stretch at the venue. Leerdam's gold came in the event's final pairing, amplifying the drama as the crowd awaited the last skaters. The result represents a major career milestone for Leerdam and another high point in a long tradition of Dutch excellence on the ice.
Jake Paul's emotional presence and the crossover spotlight
Images from the arena captured jake paul reacting emotionally as Leerdam completed her winning skate. Paul, known for a transition from social-media fame to a professional boxing career, has drawn attention for his relationship with Leerdam; his visible reaction added a human, personal element to the sporting milestone.
The moment highlights how high-profile relationships between elite athletes and public figures can intensify media and fan attention at major events. For Leerdam, the gold medal remains the central story — a culmination of years of training and a statement performance on the sport’s biggest stage — but Paul's presence reminded viewers of the wider cultural interest in Olympic moments that blend sports and celebrity.
What this win means going forward
Leerdam's Olympic title and record time set a new benchmark in the women's 1000m and will likely reverberate through the speedskating season and the broader Olympic cycle. For teammates and competitors alike, the result is both a challenge and a motivation: the Netherlands demonstrated depth, while rivals will aim to close the gap ahead of world championships and other major meets.
On a personal level, the victory cements Leerdam's status among the sport’s elite. The visible support from her partner in the stands underscores the emotional stakes of Olympic success for athletes and their families. In the days after the event, attention will turn to celebrations at home, the next competitions for the medallists, and how this dramatic night shapes the careers of those involved.
The women's 1000m on Feb. 9, 2026 (ET), will be remembered both for a rapidly evolving Olympic record and for an image that captured the intersection of elite sport and personal devotion: a champion crossing the line and a partner moved to tears.
