Jutta Leerdam, the Olympic speed skater, chose luxury over standard operating procedures ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Instead of travelling with the team to the event, she chose to go with her fiancé, American professional boxer and YouTuber Jake Paul, on his private jet.
Her decision to stick to her luxurious and flamboyant lifestyle even during such a historic sporting event, where she was representing her country, was seen by many as being against the spirit of sportsmanship.
It is usual for athletes from a particular country during an Olympic campaign to stick with the team to foster bonding and maintain overall morale. However, Leerdam was fiercely individualistic, doing things her own way, even as criticism mounted. But ultimately, it all paid off, as she set an Olympic record of 1:12.31 to win gold for her nation.
Jutta Leerdam’s stubbornness paid off
It all kicked off when the Dutch contingent, which included the skating group, travelled on a regular commercial flight in economy class — except for Jutta. The speed skater arrived in Milan on a Dassault Falcon 900EX, a private jet capable of covering 5,100 miles (8,275 km) without stopovers, courtesy of her fiancé. Come to think of it, the luxury aircraft may have offered her much-needed comfort and rest, as she avoided the hustle and bustle of a regular passenger flight.
However, the Olympic gold medalist did not break any rules, as she obtained special permission from her federation to travel separately. You may call her antics diva-like, but ultimately, she performed spectacularly at the Winter Olympics. In the women’s 1,000 meters at Milan, which took place on February 15, 2026, she won gold, defeating her teammate Femke Kok and then-defending champion Miho Takagi. It was also the Netherlands’ first gold medal of the Games.
Nevertheless, her mannerisms ahead of and during the event fobbed off many people. Reportedly, she chose to skip the opening ceremony, not travelling with the team to the stadium. A certain section of Dutch society and sports fans found it a bit embarrassing that the sportswoman decided to watch the ceremony from her hotel room while the rest of her teammates proudly represented the Dutch flag.
“She should want it of her own accord. She is already living like a millionaire, with private jets and everything. Her behavior is horrible to me, like that of a diva. If I were her coach, I wouldn’t tolerate that. Gradually, the whole of the Netherlands is getting fed up with her behaviour,” Dutch television pundit, former professional footballer, Johan Derksen, told a Dutch television channel.
Furthermore, the Dutch skating star initially declined to speak to journalists. According to media reports, Dutch sports journalists complained about the lack of access to the sports star, as they were unable to secure the necessary soundbites for newsroom coverage. However, her performance played a pivotal role in shifting the narrative from a prima donna to the nation’s pride.
While she stretched out in her luxurious cabin and shared Instagram photos of herself dining on sumptuous snacks and pastries on her way to Milan, it might have given her the competitive edge that her other teammates couldn’t get due to what some might say was a lack of privileged access. Although some of her actions might have been a bit on the nose, these minor inconveniences were quickly forgotten in the face of a stunning sporting achievement.
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