Jutta Leerdam, Jake Paul’s fiancee, wins gold at the Winter Olympics

Dutch women’s speed skater Jutta Leerdam lived up to the high expectations placed on her on Monday, winning the gold medal in the 1,000-meter speed skating at the Winter Olympics.

Leerdam, fiancee of boxer Jake Paul, set an Olympic record with a time of 1:12.31. She eclipsed the record set by her Dutch teammate Femke Kok moments before she hit the ice.

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The 27-year-old speed skating star was in tears as she skated around the rink and waved to her friends and family in the stands. Paul was in tears as he celebrated with her family. It is Leerdam’s first Olympic gold medal and second Olympic medal overall.

She came all the way from almost missing the Olympic team to calling herself a champion.

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Jake Paul of the United States, center, cries after his fiancee Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands won the gold medal in the women’s 1,000-meter speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Kok broke a trail just ahead of her with a time of 1:12.59. She took the silver medal and is expected to be in contention for a gold medal in the 500 meters race later in the Games.

Japan’s Miho Takagi finished third with a time of 1:39.59.

American Erin Jackson sat in first place before the rest of the couples began. But her time of 1:15.00 even dropped quickly. Her teammate Brittany Bowe finished fourth just behind Takagi with a time of 1:14.55.

Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands in shock after winning the gold medal in the women’s 1,000 meters speed skating at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

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Team USA has only two medals so far in the Winter Olympics – both gold.