Jutta Leerdam has spent years among speed skating's most recognizable names, known for her dominance on the ice. The Dutch skater has built a massive following over the course of her career, but her latest decision has left fans wondering what comes next. 

Success has come alongside the intense demands of competing at the highest level, with Leerdam balancing training, competition, and the pressure that comes with being an Olympic medalist. 

Following her Olympic success, Leerdam has continued to attract attention both on and off the ice. However, her latest comments, shared in a recent YouTube video, suggest her approach to the sport may be changing. 

"Retirement just feels very final," Jutta Leerdam said in the YouTube video uploaded on her channel. "It feels like I’m closing a door, fully, to something that I really love. I’ve had an obsession with skating."

Jutta Leerdam has built a decorated career in speed skating, earning major international medals and establishing herself among the sport's leading names. 

"I've had an obsession with skating. It's a big part of who I am. It's a big part of my heart. To me, it would not feel right to fully close that door. I love it too much. I'm 27. Life changes, feelings change, and I wouldn't feel comfortable saying I'm fully retiring forever "

Leerdam confirmed she won't compete at all during the 2026-27 season, meaning she'll sit out the World Cup circuit when it opens in mid-November in Beijing. 

For now, Leerdam isn't putting a date on her return, and with the World Cup season opening without her, fans will have to wait to see when she steps back on the ice. 

Jutta Leerdam chooses to focus on herself

Behind the decision to sit out the season is a shift in how Leerdam is thinking about her career, and about herself. After years spent structuring her life around training blocks, competition schedules, and the relentless pursuit of Olympic gold, she's now choosing to prioritize something less measurable. 

In the aforementioned YouTube video, she further spoke about what she plans on doing during her time off. 

"Am I taking this time to myself to learn new skills, to be happy, and to just do what makes me feel good? Yeah, that's what I'm going to do," Leerdam said in the video. 

She further explained her decision to step back from speed skating plainly by saying. 

"Right now, what feels right is choosing me." 

Jutta Leerdam isn't walking away from skating, and she isn't pretending this season off is anything less than a deliberate choice. For now, that choice is herself. 

Written by

Chionia Libania Colaco