Leerdam Crashes in 1,000m Olympic Trials Race

Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam crashed out of her signature 1,000-meter event during Olympic trials in Heerenveen, Netherlands, on Friday, jeopardizing her qualification for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina but leaving her hopes alive through a potential selection committee decision.

The 26-year-old Leerdam, who earned silver in the 1,000 meters at the 2022 Beijing Games, lost balance on the second bend and slid into the barriers during the race at the Thialf ice stadium. She did not finish the event, which would have been key to securing an automatic spot. Teammates Femke Kok and Suzanne Schulting qualified with times of 1:14.08 and 1:14.71, respectively. Leerdam, visibly emotional, left the ice in tears and later described the incident to reporters. "It felt like there was something on the ice, or a blunt spot on my skate," she said. "I just completely slid away. I'm skating so well in practice and I was so excited."

Her fiancé, American boxer and social media influencer Jake Paul, 28, watched from the stands. Paul, who suffered a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua on December 19 in Miami, resulting in a broken jaw in two places that required surgery, expressed...