Olympic speed skating champion Jutta Leerdam will not compete in the upcoming season, though she has not retired from the sport entirely.
The 27-year-old won gold in the 1,000 metres and silver in the 500 metres at the winter games in Milan, where she first expressed uncertainty about her competitive future.
Leerdam announced the break on her YouTube channel, stating that while she will not skate this year, she is not ready to close the door permanently on the sport.
Plans off the ice
Leerdam, who now lives in the United States and is engaged to Jake Paul, plans to focus on making videos for social media alongside other projects.
She currently has 6.3 million followers on Instagram. In her 11-minute announcement video, she spoke about the pressure of winning and her drive to claim an Olympic title.
Former champion and analyst Mark Tuitert told broadcaster NOS that he expects Leerdam to return, noting she would be 31 when the Olympics arrive in four years.
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