Jake Paul recently arrived at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for his highly anticipated fight against Mike Tyson, accompanied by his girlfriend Jutta Leerdam, a 25-year-old Dutch Olympic speed skater. The couple made their relationship Instagram official in April 2023, with Paul sharing multiple photos alongside the caption “I’m Dutch now,” symbolizing his affection for Leerdam. They celebrated their one-year anniversary on April 12.
Leerdam expressed her admiration for Paul, stating, “I adore you, I’m so grateful for you, you make me the happiest girl in the world,” and praised him as “the man with the best heart.” Paul reciprocated these feelings in his anniversary tribute, noting that he has “been in love since day one.”
Jutta Leerdam hails from s-Gravenzande, Netherlands, and began her journey in speed skating at a young age. She achieved significant milestones, including being crowned the 2017 World Junior Speed Skating Champion and winning a silver medal in the 1000 meters at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. Encouraged by her Olympic journey, she expressed joy over her accomplishments, saying, “Wow… What a rollercoaster… Really happy with a silver medal on the Olympic games!!!” More recently, she captured gold at the 2023 World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships held in Heerenveen, Netherlands.
The two athletes first crossed paths through social media, as Leerdam recounted in an episode of Netflix’s “Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson.” Paul reached out via a direct message, inviting her to appear on his podcast. Initially skeptical about his intentions, Leerdam didn’t expect to fall for him, but their connection deepened as they navigated their busy careers. Despite maintaining a long-distance relationship due to demanding training schedules, they have remained close.
This relationship showcases not only love but also mutual respect between two individuals dedicated to their crafts. As both continue to achieve great things in their respective sports, it’s heartening to see how they support one another amid the challenges of their careers. Their story serves as a reminder that even in high-pressure environments, authentic connections can thrive.