Jutta Leerdam has established herself as one of speed skating’s most dominant figures, winning the 1000-meter world title twice (2020, 2023), claiming Olympic silver at Beijing 2022, and capturing the 2022 World Sprint Championship. The 26-year-old Dutch sensation holds the national record of 1:11.84 in the 1000-meter and has won five European Championship titles. From junior world champion in 2017 to consistent World Cup victories, Leerdam’s career demonstrates exceptional talent, strategic team changes, and the ability to perform under pressure while balancing elite competition with global fame as Jake Paul’s fiancée.
Early Success: From Junior Champion to Senior Breakthrough
Jutta Leerdam began speed skating at age 11 in ‘s-Gravenzande, South Holland, after transitioning from field hockey. According to Olympics.com, she explained her preference for individual sports: “I played hockey for eight years, but I have never been a team player. The individual aspect of skating appeals to me. It never lies.”
Her breakthrough came at the 2017 World Junior Championships in Helsinki, Finland, where NBC Olympics reports she was crowned junior world champion. She claimed silver the following year in Salt Lake City, winning the ISU Junior World Cup in both 1000-meter and 1500-meter events. Beginning her senior career in 2018, Leerdam immediately became Dutch sprint champion and world champion in team sprint alongside Letitia de Jong and Janine Smit.
World Championship Glory and Record-Breaking Performances
The 2020 World Single Distance Championships in Salt Lake City marked Leerdam’s emergence as the world’s premier 1000-meter skater. According to NBC Olympics, she set the Dutch national record of 1:11.84 while winning gold—a record that still stands today. This performance established her dominance in sprint distances.
Olympics.com reports Leerdam made a strategic decision in 2020 to leave Team Reggeborgh and establish Team Worldstream, providing training flexibility and access to Russian coach Kosta Poltavets. She later joined Team Jumbo-Visma in 2022, explaining: “I have the freedom here to develop myself as a brand, as a person and as a skater.”
Beijing 2022 Olympics: Silver Medal and Sprint Championship
Jutta Leerdam’s Olympic debut at Beijing 2022 arrived with enormous expectations. As two-time reigning European 1000-meter champion, Olympics.com reports she claimed Olympic silver behind Japan’s Miho Takagi with a time of 1:13.83. Though a hand touched the ice potentially costing gold, Leerdam reflected: “I am happy with silver. I fought until the end.”
She immediately rebounded by winning overall sprint gold at the 2022 World Sprint Championships ahead of Femke Kok. Leerdam regained her 1000-meter world title at the 2023 World Single Distances Championships in Heerenveen while adding 500-meter bronze. According to Wikipedia, she won her fifth European title in 2024, maintaining her status among the world’s elite sprinters.
Recent Career Evolution and Milano Cortina 2026 Goals
After dealing with a left ankle injury affecting her 2024-2025 season start, NBC Olympics reports Leerdam announced stepping away from everything to dedicate ten months exclusively to training. She won two 1000-meter World Cup races in the 2024-25 season, most recently defeating 2022 Olympic champion Miho Takagi on December 5, demonstrating her continued world-class form.
Jutta Leerdam Career Achievements
| Achievement | Details | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Olympic Medals | Silver (1000m) | 2022 |
| World Championships | 2x Gold (1000m Individual) | 2020, 2023 |
| World Sprint Championships | Gold (Overall) | 2022 |
| European Championships | 5x Gold | 2020-2024 |
| Dutch National Record | 1:11.84 (1000m) | 2020 |
| Junior World Championships | Gold | 2017 |
| 2024-25 World Cup | 2 wins (1000m) | 2024-2025 |
Sources: Olympics.com, NBC Olympics, Wikipedia
Jutta Leerdam’s remarkable speed skating career showcases sustained excellence from junior champion to Olympic medalist and multiple-time world champion. With her sights set on Olympic gold at Milano Cortina 2026, Leerdam continues redefining Dutch speed skating while demonstrating that individualism, strategic thinking, and unwavering dedication produce championship results at the highest levels of international competition.
