Jutta Leerdam shows true colours as team-mate wins gold | Other | Sport
Femke Kok beat Netherlands teammate Jutta Leerdam in the Winter Olympics women’s speed skating 500m final in a reversal of their one-two finish in the 1000m. Leerdam was still all smiles after winning a silver medal to go along with her gold earlier this week, despite being pipped to a second title by her compatriot Kok.
She led with three pairs remaining after taking the lead in the 12th run with a time of 37.15 seconds, but Kok set a new Olympic record, finishing in 36.49 while paired with the defending champion Erin Jackson of the United States. The American missed the podium by 0.05 seconds, with Japan’s Miho Tagaki taking the bronze with a time of 37.27.
Leerdam was gracious in defeat, posing for photos with her teammate after receiving their medals. She and Kok have already experienced each other’s emotions from 1000m, when the new champion chose to console the runner-up, with roles reversed.
Leerdam’s fiancé, Jake Paul, was watching on in Milan and shared footage of his reaction to her crossing the finish line on social media. He was applauding as she crossed the line, shouting, “come on” and only stopped clapping while processing her time.
Paul raised both hands before placing them on his head with his mouth agape after realising that she was in the lead. He started laughing and continued applauding before saying: “She’s in first, she’s in first!”
The Instagram reel’s caption reads: “She’s so amazing, wow. Another medal (second place medal emoji), you inspire us all,” tagging her in the message. After adding that he is so proud of her, Paul said in a separate post on his story: “Congratulations to the Netherlands,” tagging Leerdam and Kok on a photo showing the pair celebrating together.
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She travelled to Italy on a private jet rather than travelling alongside her teammates. Leerdam also did not join them for the opening ceremony at San Siro after choosing to watch it on television instead.
Dutch journalist Johan Derksen said: “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.”
A source has also told The Sun: “Ever since she began dating Jake, there is a feeling among many Dutch people that she thinks she is better than us.” The source suggested that before meeting Paul, Leerdam was “a lot more humble” and that being with the American had ‘rubbed off on her’.
