“The loving man that you are”
Olympic star with emotional words of thanks to fiancé
February 27, 2026 – 6:45 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Jutta Leerdam excelled at the Olympics. Now she has thanked her supporters with emotional words – including her celebrity friend.
A few days after the end of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam thanked numerous companions for their support. “Before I started this journey, I had already won in life because I had the greatest people around me,” wrote the 27-year-old on Instagram, sending emotional words of thanks to her coaching team, her parents and her siblings.
Leerdam expressed herself particularly affectionately towards her partner Jake Paul. “Thank you to my fiancé for being there for me, for listening to me every day when I talk about this sport that you didn’t even know before we met,” Leerdam said. And further: “Thank you for letting me be who I am and supporting me on this journey. The loving man that you are. I love you, Jake.”
Leerdam and American boxer Paul have been in a relationship since 2023. The couple announced their engagement last March. Paul, an avowed supporter of US President Donald Trump, also accompanied Leerdam at the Winter Games.
The seven-time world champion secured two medals at the competitions in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. First, Leerdam won gold in speed skating over 1000 meters and set an Olympic best time. Shortly afterwards she also won the silver medal in the 500 meters. Four years earlier she had already won silver in the 1000 meters in Beijing.
“I’m ending the season on a high. Becoming an Olympic champion completes my list of dreams,” wrote Leerdam. “I feel very fulfilled.”
