As is often the case in the world of sport, the media coverage of the women performing at the 2026 Winter Olympics has left a lot to be desired. It had many issues, one of the most egregious of which was the treatment of a Dutch speed skater, Jutta Leerdam.
Leerdam has been making a name for herself in the world of speed skating for years now. After a promising junior career, she turned professional in 2018 and has been collecting trophies and achievements ever since. She became a World Single Distance Champion in the 1000m in both 2020 and 2023. She was also the 2022 World Sprint Champion and won the silver medal in the 1000m during the Olympics in Beijing.
This year, Leerdam has once again shown what she is capable of on the Olympic stage. She started with her best distance, the 1000m. Her performance not only earned her a gold medal but also allowed her to set a new Olympic record of 1:12.31. A few days later, she also participated in the 500m, in which she managed to win silver, losing only to her compatriot Femke Kok.
If there is anything that Leerdam’s achievements show, it’s that she is an incredible athlete. While talking about her, especially in the context of the Olympics, it would be only natural to focus on her physical abilities. That is, however, far from the case. In reality, more often than not, when she is mentioned, it is in relation to her internet personality fiancé.
This led to ridiculous situations in which articles talking about Leerdam’s medals and records put her partner’s name in their titles. The engagement-driven promotion strategy is incredibly harmful both for the skater and for women in general. It sets a precedent that they are not enough to ever be talked on their own, maybe even that they are not fully-fledged people without men by their side.
Articles aren’t the only media in which the problem’s occur. Even when Leerdam is mentioned by name and not the infuriating title, her fiancé still manages to sneak into conversations. When I watched the 500m skating event, one of the Polish commentators talked about her as she appeared on screen. He didn’t mention her previously won gold, the broken Olympic record, or even her predicted experience in the event. Instead, he said something along the lines of “Here we can see Jutta Leerdam; her fiancé must be somewhere in the stands.” Only he used his name, because men can never remain nameless.
Men get to exist as athletes, whose achievements are the starting point for the discussions that are then held about them. Their partners, famous or not, are usually a separate part of their life, rather than a point of reference. For women, the situation is, more often than not, flipped. No matter how successful, they always remain someone’s girlfriend, as if they aren’t interesting enough to be spoken about on their own.
The lack of recognition is a problem that can be seen not only in the world of sport, but that is enhanced where sport is concerned. What does it matter who Leerdam’s fiancé is when she is winning gold medals? Why should he be the focal point during a moment that is a culmination of her years of hard work? The inability to talk about women as separate beings stems from deeply rooted misogyny. It is both sad and disappointing to see how prevalent it is even during an event as important as the Olympics.
Throughout the article, I have not used the name of Leerdam’s fiancé. I would strongly encourage anyone who wants to talk about her Olympic achievements to do the same. Where sport is concerned, it is she who should be the focal point, as should all the other women tirelessly working on being the best they can possibly be.
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