Jutta Leerdam appears to be recovering well following a recent cycling accident, with only a visible plaster on her chin as a reminder.
Schaatsen.nl, the Dutch skating news outlet, reports on her progress.
Leerdam’s skating technique remains calm and steady, and she moves confidently without hesitation. She often completes her laps alone, occasionally accompanied by her coach Kosta Poltavets, who skates alongside her to provide brief instructions and corrections through short phrases and hand gestures. After these sessions, she resumes her solo laps with increased pace. Observers near the rink have noted that her stitches might be removed later in the week.
Fellow skater Kai Verbij is also on the ice, but the pair do not train together frequently. Poltavets explains that skating with others just before a competition may cause a skater to unconsciously adopt someone else’s style, which can be disadvantageous for an upcoming race.
While Leerdam has declined to give an interview, her coach confirms that she is in good condition. He remarks that recovering from an accident is challenging for anyone, but what matters most is how one emerges from it. According to Poltavets, Leerdam is demonstrating resilience and strength. He also notes that the fast ice in Salt Lake City appeared to activate a positive response in her skating, a sensation she is now building on during training sessions in Heerenveen.
