Jutta Leerdam let her emotions run free. © APA/afp / WANG ZHAO

The celebrity winner: "My makeup was everywhere"

When speed skater Jutta Leerdam's tears of joy streamed down her face after her long-awaited Olympic triumph in Milan, even the 27-year-old's otherwise perfect make-up gave way.

February 10, 2026

From: dpa/dl

“Oh yes, my makeup was everywhere,” said the Dutchwoman, who celebrated her first Olympic gold medal in the 1.000 meters that night at the “TeamNL” house. Her fiancé, the US influencer Jake Paul, was also there and hardly left her side.

A hug here, a kiss there – followed by a throng of journalists, the glamorous celebrity couple enjoyed the hustle and bustle and the attention in the catacombs of the Milano Speed ​​Skating Stadium shortly after the race. "My baby just set the Olympic record," Paul proudly wrote on his Instagram channel.

Both superstars are on Instagram

The boxer, a Trump supporter who recently lost to former world champion Anthony Joshua, was rooting for his partner, as were hundreds of Dutch fans dressed in orange. Paul also shed tears after the race.

US influencer and boxer Jake Paul is the partner of Jutta Leerdam. © APA/afp / DANIEL MUNOZ

The influencer has almost 29 million followers on Instagram. Leerdam, on the other hand, has five million followers. The sprinter sometimes posts very revealing photos. However, the Olympic champion's popularity is a boon for speed skating, which, apart from Leerdam's home country, is only a niche sport on the world map.

Leerdam unfazed by background noise

Leerdam isn't just attracting attention on social media. The glamorous athlete is polarizing opinions like almost no other sportswoman at these Winter Games. Even in the days leading up to her 1.000-meter race, there was a major uproar because Leerdam, unlike her teammates, had traveled to the Games by private jet. Furthermore, she refused to speak to the press before the 1.000-meter event. This sparked a barrage of criticism.

But Leerdam withstood the pressure at the Games in Italy. With an Olympic record time of 1:12,31 minutes, she won gold. "Yes, there was pressure. But I try to use it to my advantage and focus even more," she explained.

Jutta Leerdam after winning gold in the 1.000 meters. © APA/afp / DANIEL MUNOZ

Leerdam emphasized that Paul was also "definitely emotionally involved." The 29-year-old isn't afraid to express his opinions and provoke on social media. Regarding the performance of Puerto Rican music star Bad Bunny during the Super Bowl halftime show on Monday night, he wrote on the platform X: "Turn off this halftime show. A fake American is performing, publicly hating America. I cannot support this."

Even his brother reprimands Paul for his statement

He subsequently received a rebuke on social media from his brother, influencer Logan Paul. "I love my brother, but I don't agree with this. Puerto Ricans are Americans, and I'm glad they've been given the opportunity to showcase their island's talent," he wrote.

Jake Paul later spoke up again, explaining that he lives in Puerto Rico and agrees with Bad Bunny's statement that "love is stronger than hate." At the same time, he added that he considers people who criticize the US to be "false citizens."

Olympic champion leaves future open

While Paul is known to speak out on political issues, Leerdam remains reserved in that regard. She responded to the criticism in her home country on the ice. German speed skating icon and Eurosport expert Anni Friesinger-Postma described Leerdam's performance as "incredible" and added: "You can think what you want about her, but she has already proven her abilities, she doesn't always have it easy, and she can handle pressure."

Jutta Leerdam defies the criticism and delivers. © ANSA / TERESA SUAREZ

Leerdam remained tight-lipped about her plans after the season following her Olympic triumph. "I'm not really thinking about that yet. I'm only just beginning to realize that I'm an Olympic champion," she said. Recently, rumors of a possible pregnancy have been circulating.