Dutch speed skater and influencer Jutta Leerdam has become one of the biggest storylines of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics — not only for her results, but for the debate that followed.
The 27-year-old, who is engaged to Jake Paul, delivered a standout Games performance, setting a new Olympic record in the 1000m and adding a silver medal in the 500m. Still, much of the conversation online has focused less on her medals and more on what happened around them.
Leerdam drew attention for reasons unrelated to her times on the ice, including viral claims about her appearance on TV and criticism of her choice to wear makeup while competing at the highest level.
In the days after her success, she addressed the commentary in an emotional Instagram post.
Alongside a photo of herself after the win — a tear visible beneath dark mascara — she said the image reflected what her Olympics meant to her and pushed back against what she described as constant judgment.
“For me, this picture captured everything my Olympics stood for,” the star athlete said. “This moment proves you don’t have to become less of yourself to achieve something great.
“That your looks don’t define you as a person or as an athlete. That if you work hard and stay determined, it will all come together.”
She also emphasized that her styling choices are personal, and argued that the criticism says more about the people making it than the athlete being targeted.
She continued: “It’s so ironic because my winged eyeliner and make-up are something I’ve been judged for during my whole career, when all it ever did was give me confidence and make me feel feminine and powerful.
“The pressure I’ve felt, the judgment I’ve dealt with around so many things, the hard work I’ve been putting in for so many years all came together in this moment.”
The scrutiny intensified again after viewers pointed to her unzipping her racing suit post-race, which revealed a Nike-branded sports bra. Some critics alleged it was done to generate sponsorship value and suggested it could have conflicted with Olympic advertising rules, with reports speculating it might be worth up to $1 million.
On Friday, however, the International Olympic Committee said no rule had been broken, noting that unzipping suits after finishing is common in speed skating given the tight racing gear.
In closing, Leerdam said she felt no obligation to justify herself, framing the moment as something she did for her own journey and for people who don’t want to be defined by strict expectations.
After this week of intense scrutiny and criticism, Leerdam ended her emotion post by saying: “I never felt the need to prove anything. I did this for me, my younger self, my family and for all women who don’t want to be put in a box and just want to be their authentic selves.
“A reminder that you can be soft and strong, disciplined and feminine, all at once. Never let anyone dim your light.”
Future husband Paul simply replied: “Iconic.”