The Power of Speed
Femke Kok's triumphant 36.49-second finish in the women's 500-meter speedskating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics has cemented her status as a Dutch speedskating legend. As the crowd erupted in cheers, Kok celebrated with her teammate and silver medalist Jutta Leerdam, who has been no stranger to the spotlight with her fiancée Jake Paul.
From Record to Victory
Kok's victory was made all the more impressive by her breaking the Olympic record, which also earned her the title of fastest-ever speedskater at sea level. With a margin of victory of .66 seconds over Leerdam, Kok proved that she was the top contender in the 500-meter event.
According to the Netherlands' speedskating enthusiasts in attendance, the Dutch were all-in on Kok for the shorter sprint. "We are a really small country," says Kok. "But we can do speedskating."
The Dutch Dominance Continues
The Netherlands' impressive performance in the speedskating events has cemented their position at the top of the medal table. With 5 golds and 11 total medals, the Dutch have outdone their Italian rivals, who trail behind with 3 golds and 5 total medals.
American Erin Jackson, the defending Olympic champion, finished fifth in the event. Despite a strong start, Jackson stumbled out of a turn and couldn't make up enough time to reach the podium. "For her to be able to basically do what I did last Olympic cycle, come in ranked number one, winning consistently, and then to do it at the Olympics, yeah, it's really awesome," says Jackson.
A Different Kind of Pressure
Leerdam, who has 6.2 million followers on Instagram, has navigated a different set of challenges than her competitors, namely tabloid attention. "It's not always easy, especially with the media, because they want stories, and if they don't have stories, they make up stories," she says.
Despite the challenges, Leerdam has proven to be a phenom in the speedskating world, earning her celebrity status. "She's a phenom," says American Sarah Warren. "She had a ton of eyes on her, and she put it down, and she stood up to the pressure."
A Strong Bond
Kok and Leerdam have expressed admiration for one another, noting that they have a strong respect for each other's skills. "We wanted to push each other to the highest level," says Kok.
As they celebrate their Olympic records and medals, it's clear that the Dutch speedskating dynasty is in good hands with Kok and Leerdam at the helm.
