Jutta Leerdam has not decided to retire but will assess this summer whether she still has the passion and drive to compete in another speed skating season.
Schaatsen.nl, a Dutch speed skating news outlet, reports on Leerdam’s current reflections following her recent performances.
Leerdam expressed that although she has achieved many goals, including securing an Olympic title and two silver medals, her enthusiasm for the sport remains strong. She emphasized her love for speed skating, highlighting the sensation of moving at high speeds and handling the turns on the ice, which she personally generates. She also noted the strong bond within her team, describing them as like family.
Regarding her recent race in the 500 meters, where she finished with a time of 37.15 seconds and earned a silver medal, Leerdam acknowledged the significant time difference of 0.66 seconds behind Femke Kok, the gold medalist. She admitted that while her race was not perfect, silver was the best result she could aim for that day. Leerdam praised Kok as a worthy Olympic champion and showed deep respect for her performance, noting that Kok usually competes at times in the 36-second range.
