Dutch speedskating sensation Jutta Leerdam silenced her critics with a display of pure sportsmanship just moments after clinching Olympic gold in record time.
The 27-year-old superstar was seen sprinting toward her rival and teammate Femke Kok after beating her to the 1,000m title in a snowy Milan on Monday afternoon.
The emotional embrace, captured in a viral video on X, showed the champion ditching her celebrations to console her teammate in a move that stunned her detractors.
Fans who previously branded the star a ‘diva’ were left to watch on as she hugged Kok, proving the bond between the two athletes remained unbroken.
Leerdam did not just win the race, she dominated the field and shattered the Olympic record with a blistering and historic time of on 1:12.31 the Italian ice.
The victory marks an upgrade from the silver medal she secured in Beijing four years ago and cements her legacy as the one of the greatest skaters of her generation.
Dutch speedskater Jutta Leerdam shook off her ‘diva’ title by running over and consoling silver medalist Femke Kok, just moments after winning a gold medal at the Winter Olympics
Leerdam claimed gold in the women’s 1000 speed skating event in an Olympic record
Leerdam became the first Dutch athlete to win a gold medal at Milan Cortina 2026
However, her journey to the top of the podium was clouded by intense scrutiny over her ‘diva’ lifestyle and her preference for luxury travel arrangements.
Former Dutch footballer Johan Derksen led the charge of critics, slamming her decision to travel to Italy via a lavish private jet instead of with her teammates.
‘Her behaviour is horrible to me, like that of a diva,’ Derksen fumed prior to the event while speaking to the Dutch media about her high-profile public persona.
‘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,’ he added sharply.
Leerdam further fueled the fire by skipping the Opening Ceremony, choosing instead to watch the event from her bed while her teammates marched in the stadium.
Images of her private jet – complete with custom flags and handmade cupcakes – had social media influencers and sporting fans alike deeply divided.
But as the clock stopped on Monday, the ‘diva’ narrative hit a wall of ice as the world witnessed her genuine affection for the silver medalist during the final.
Leerdam burst into tears as the reality of her first Olympic title set in, having fought through immense pressure to deliver the performance of her entire career.
Jake Paul was seen crying in the stands following his fiancee’s success in the event
Leerdam burst into tears after claiming gold, upgrading from her silver medal from Beijing 2022
Watching from the second row was her fiancé, YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, who was seen openly weeping in the stands as he watched her historic achievement.
Paul, who recently suffered a defeat against Anthony Joshua, took to social media to praise his partner in a series of emotional posts shared with his followers.
‘Juttttttttttaaaaaaaa. I can’t stop crying,’ Paul wrote to his millions of followers while celebrating the massive victory from his seat inside the packed arena.
‘You did it my love. Olympic Gold. God is great and so are you,’ he continued, clearly overwhelmed by the magnitude of what the Dutch star had just accomplished.
The victory is particularly sweet for Leerdam, who was a discretionary pick for the Dutch team after a terrifying crash during trials back in the month of December.
She is now the first Dutch athlete to win a gold medal at the Milan Cortina 2026 Games, bringing much-needed glory to her nation after a very tense winter season.
