Jutta Leerdam, the Dutch speedskating prodigy, quieted her naysayers with an extraordinary act of sportsmanship right after seizing Olympic gold, setting a new record in the process.
At 27, Leerdam was seen dashing towards her competitor and fellow Dutch athlete, Femke Kok, after she triumphed in the 1,000m race under snowy conditions in Milan on Monday afternoon.
Captured in a viral video on X, the heartfelt moment revealed the new champion putting aside her victory celebrations to comfort Kok, leaving critics in awe.
Observers who had labeled Leerdam as a ‘diva’ witnessed her embrace Kok, underscoring the unshakable camaraderie between the pair.
One fan, responding to the footage, commented: ‘Where is Jutta running to? Of course… to Femke Kok! Let’s stop claiming she’s arrogant and self-centered!’
‘She truly embodies sportsmanship, this incredible athletic talent! Beautiful!,’ the admirer continued.
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
Another took to X and said: ‘Jutta Leerdam and Femke Kok: what a performance, what class! Pure elite sport, pure orange love.
‘TeamNL and the whole of the Netherlands can be SO proud. These are moments that stay with you,’ the fan added.
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.
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.
Join the debate
Does sporting success excuse a star’s luxury lifestyle and past controversial choices?
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
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.
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.
It comes after Leerdam was branded a ‘diva’ for traveling to the Winter Games on a private jet
Jake Paul’s fiancee chose not to fly with the rest of the Dutch team to Milan-Cortina
‘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.
