Dutch Speed Skater Jutta Leerdam Wins Gold, Faces Online Backlash

Leerdam's record-breaking performance overshadowed by scrutiny of her personal life and relationship with Jake Paul.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam won gold in the women's 1000m event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, setting a new Olympic record. However, instead of celebrating her athletic achievement, much of the online discourse focused on critiquing Leerdam's demeanor, social media presence, and her relationship with controversial figure Jake Paul.

Why it matters

Leerdam's experience highlights the intense scrutiny and backlash that successful women in the public eye often face, where their accomplishments are sidelined in favor of commentary on their personal lives and appearance. This pattern reflects broader cultural expectations placed on female athletes to excel, but not draw too much attention to themselves.

The details

Leerdam dominated the competition, posting a time of 1:11.28 which set a new Olympic record. However, within hours of her victory, much of the online discussion shifted away from her athletic performance and instead focused on critiquing her curated social media presence, her relationship with Jake Paul, and even the way she arrived at the Olympics (by private jet). Commenters accused Leerdam of being 'too polished' and 'self-promotional', as if having a strong public image should somehow disqualify her from her achievements.

  • Leerdam crossed the finish line and won gold on February 13, 2026.
  • Within hours of her victory, the online backlash began to emerge.

The players

Jutta Leerdam

A Dutch speed skater who won gold in the women's 1000m event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, setting a new Olympic record.

Jake Paul

Leerdam's fiancé, a former Vine star and YouTube personality who has recently waded into political controversies.

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The takeaway

Leerdam's experience reflects a broader cultural tendency to scrutinize and police the behavior of successful women, particularly when they refuse to conform to narrow expectations. Her record-breaking athletic achievement should have been the focus, but instead the online discourse centered on assumptions about her personal life and relationship. This pattern highlights the need for a more inclusive and equitable sports culture that celebrates women's accomplishments without resorting to ideological projection and unfair criticism.