Leerdam breaks Olympic record to win women's speed skating 1,000m gold at Milano Cortina 2026

Jutta Leerdam and Femke Kok secured a 1-2 finish for the Netherlands in the women's 1,000-meter speed skating event at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Monday.

"This is surreal. I still can't believe it. I can't wait to celebrate with my family and friends. It's just a dream come true," Leerdam said. "This is just unbelievable. I really need to give my family and friends a hug. They supported me so hard along the way."

Starting in the 13th and third-to-last pair, Kok, this season's World Cup leader, clocked 1:12.59 to break the previous Olympic record of 1:13.19 set by Japan's Miho Takagi four years ago in Beijing. However, Leerdam soon edged her out for gold with another new Olympic mark of 1:12.31.

"When I crossed the finish line. I didn't even give myself time to think [during the race]. After the finish, I was just hoping that I saw green," Leerdam recalled. "When I saw that green [color] next to my name (which means she won the race), I thought, 'this is a dream come true'. I really couldn't believe it and I still can't. That I peaked at the right moment is just insane."

"I knew it was going to be hard, because Femke KoK did a really good time. So it was going to be hard. When I saw I did it, I felt so happy, surprised and grateful that I did it," she added.

The 27-year-old who had finished second to Takagi at Beijing 2022, finally helped the Netherlands clinch their first gold at the Games after the speed skating powerhouse missed the podium on the first two competition days.

"I'm really happy with the race, I skated one of my best 1,000m ever. I can't complain. Jutta was just better, a lot of respect to her," Kok said. "I gave it my all. It's a little bummer that it wasn't quite enough for gold but Jutta was amazing."

Takagi finished third in 1:13.95, taking her eighth medal across five Olympics.

Chinese skaters Yin Qi and Han Mei placed 12th and 13th respectively among the 30 participants.