Jake Paul’s fiancee Jutta Leerdam learns her Olympics fate in wake of brutal fall at final qualification event
Jake Paul’s speed skater fiancée Jutta Leerdam will compete in two events at the Winter Olympics after recovering from a devastating fall on the ice last week.
Leerdam surprisingly left the Netherlands while qualifying for the 1,000-meter race, in which she specializes, and took the ice in tears before taking part in the 500-meter race at the games in Milan the next day.
As a result of his fall, the 27-year-old anxiously awaited the decision of the Dutch selection committee to take part in the 1000 metres.
However, on Thursday, he announced on his Instagram account that the selection committee had chosen him to compete in the 1,000 meter and 500 meter races.
He wrote: ‘See you in Milan for the 500 and 1000 meters!!! After my fall in the 1000m, I refocused, recovered and qualified for the 500m.
‘Only nine Dutch women in total qualify for the Games. I was one of nine people in the 500m. Since there was still a place available in the 1000 metres, KNSB decided to add me to the 1000 metres!
Jake Paul’s fiancée Jutta Leerdam has qualified for the Winter Olympics
Leerdam accidentally abandoned his signature 1000m distance after a bad fall last week
‘What makes me happiest is that this decision does not affect any other women in the process. I’m so grateful that everything went well. ‘Milan, here we come.’
Paul was among the first to comment, posting three padlock emojis.
Paul traveled to the Netherlands to support Leerdam at the Winter Olympic trials just days after his jaw was broken in two places during his boxing match with Anthony Joshua.
Speaking to reporters after leaving the 1000m qualifying session in tears, Paul said: “I know this has been his whole life. All his dreams. And everything he worked so hard for. ‘I’m heartbroken.’
Leerdam himself made a desperate appeal to the selectors, saying: “I’m skating very well in training. Those girls skate here, I could skate easily today.
‘I’ve won World Cups in the past. I have always been at least in the top two worldwide. I hope they (the selection committee) will look at my level, including today, how I skated before I fell and the growth I’ve made.’
More to follow.
