Olympic champion Jutta Leerdam announces season-long break from speed skating

Jutta Leerdam, a 27-year-old Dutch speed-skater and recent Olympic champion in the 1000-metre race at the Milan Games, announced via a YouTube video that she will not race this season, effectively putting her career on hold. She described the decision as closing a door to a sport she loves, while also acknowledging that she does not intend to close it permanently. Leerdam highlighted her wish to spend time doing what brings her joy, referencing the freedom to pursue activities like early-morning surfing.

She also noted her recent appearance with fiancé Jake Paul at the US Open tennis tournament in New York. The International Skating Union responded with a Facebook post wishing her well during the competition hiatus.