Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam, also the fiancée of YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, may have crashed during Friday’s 1000-meter speed skating Olympic trials, but her Olympic hopes are still alive.
Leerdam finished second in Sunday’s 500-meter race, with a time of 37.242, just behind first-place Femke Kok (36.873).
However, a second-place finish does not guarantee Leerdam a spot on the Netherlands Olympic roster. In 2022, the New York Times unveiled ‘The Matrix,’ a series of algorithms the Dutch use to determine the best possible speed skaters for each Winter Olympics. The Netherlands has dominated the sport for many years, so clearly their ‘Matrix’ has some validity to it, but it could mean Leerdam’s absence in February.
Leerdam’s speed skating prowess
Leerdam was heartbroken after crashing in the 1000-meter race on Friday, but still feels confident that she will be selected for the 2026 team.
Per Olympics.com’s Lena Smirnova, Leerdam said after Sunday’s race, ‘I’ve won the past World Cups. I’ve always been at least in the top two at the world level.’ She continued, ‘I hope they’ll look at my level, including today, how I was skating before I fell, and the growth I’m making.’
Leerdam won the silver medal in 2022 in the 1000-meter race, and won two more 1000-meter races during the 2025-26 World Cup season.
Jake Paul’s reaction
Paul, an athlete in his own right, made sure to shout out his fiancée on social media, posting an Instagram story in honor of his Leerdam’s performance.
The story was a video of his fiancée on the ice with the caption, ‘So proud of you warrior.’
When will the Dutch National Selection Committee make its decision?
It is unclear whether or not Leerdam will make the Olympic team currently. A decision is expected to be made early in January.
When do the Winter Olympics begin?
Events for the 2026 Winter Olympics will begin as early as February 4. Speed skating will not begin until February 7.
The two events that Leerdam could participate in — the 1000-meter and 500-meter — will take place on February 9 and February 15, respectively.