OLYMPICS: Speed skating-Netherlands' Leerdam channels expectations to win gold

MILAN – Netherlands speed skater Jutta Leerdam delivered a "surreal" performance to win the 1,000 metres gold at the Milano Cortina Olympics on Monday, securing her second Olympic medal.

The 27-year-old, a 2020 and 2023 world single-distance champion, led a Dutch one-two finish as teammate Femke Kok took silver, earning the Netherlands its first medals of the Games. Japan’s defending champion Miho Takagi, the country’s most decorated female Olympian, claimed the bronze.

“This was really something that I was still missing,” Leerdam said. “So, it feels very complete. It feels surreal.”

Competing in her second Olympics, the sprint specialist had her fiancé, social-media star turned prizefighter Jake Paul, cheering her on as she improved on her silver medal from Beijing 2022.

After a slow start in the first two events, the Dutch team – historically the most successful in Olympic speed skating with 49 golds – came into focus, with Kok also a three-time world champion at 500m. With the Milano Speed Skating Stadium packed with orange-clad fans, Leerdam delivered under pressure.

Drawn in the 15th and final pair, she started in the outer lane alongside Takagi. Unlike 2022, when a misstroke in the final corner cost her gold, Leerdam powered through to set an Olympic record time.

“I always put a little pressure on myself,” she said. “I think I'm kind of used to it. It helps me perform even better. Of course, there’s pressure from the outside, there are expectations. I did a lot of good races this year, so I was almost the favorite, which isn’t easy going into the Olympics. I try to use it to my advantage and let it make me sharper.”

Leerdam also credited the support of Paul and her family. “I’ve been supportive, but I haven’t been able to go to his past fights because of skating. It would be nice to be there more,” she said. “He has supported me a lot and has come to many of my races, so I’m very grateful. Also my family – I’m just so grateful for the support system around me. It’s amazing.”

-Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Milan; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters