Olympic Champion Leerdam to Skip Next Season Without Retiring

Dutch Olympic speed skating champion Jutta Leerdam will sit out the 2026-27 season but said she is not retiring. Leerdam, 27, won gold in the 1,000 meters and silver in the 500 meters at the Milano Cortina Winter Games, but said retirement feels too final and she does not want to close the door on a sport central to her identity. She plans to focus on social-media videos, learning new skills and other projects while taking time to follow her personal interests. Her break leaves open a possible return, potentially in time for the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps.