Miho Takagi’s Winning Streak Ends — Yutta Råldam Wows with Her Ice Grace

The world’s most beautiful skater

The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics opened on February 6, igniting the start of fierce competition.

“At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the Japanese team earned a record 18 medals (3 gold, 7 silver, 8 bronze), and expectations are high for an even bigger medal haul this time,” said a sports newspaper editor.

On the first day of competition, February 7, Nozomi Maruyama (27) won bronze in the women’s individual normal hill Nordic ski jumping, becoming the first Japanese medalist of the Games. In addition, in men’s snowboard big air, Aoi Kimura (21) took gold, and Ryoma Kimata (23) won silver—giving Japan a strong start.

Then, on the fourth day, February 9, it was time for Miho Takagi (31) to compete, aiming for back-to-back Olympic gold.

Takagi, the queen of Japanese speed skating, was participating in her fourth Olympics, her third consecutive Games. She was scheduled to compete in four events, aiming to become the first Japanese woman to win double-digit Olympic medals.

In the opening event, the women’s 1000m, Jutta Leerdam (27) of the Netherlands—who had taken silver behind Takagi at the previous Beijing Olympics—won gold with a new Olympic record. Takagi earned the bronze medal.

“This Olympics, the Dutch skaters, a skating powerhouse, are formidable opponents. Leerdam, who took gold, previously defeated Takagi by 0.119 seconds at the World Cup Stage 3 in Heerenveen, Netherlands in December 2025, following her victory in the first World Cup stage. She carried that momentum into the Olympics to capture gold,” explained a sports writer.

Leerdam is also known as the most beautiful skater in the world, with over 5 million followers on Instagram.

Tuna mayo is forever a favorite

“Having transitioned from ice hockey, she is tall at 181 cm, yet her entire body is beautifully muscular and well-conditioned to handle body contact. Her form continues to evolve year by year, much like South Korea’s An Se-young, who was called the ‘Sexy Queen’ of Japanese women’s golf. Every time she visits Japan, her style and leg lines draw attention, and Leerdam gives off the vibe of an ‘An Se-young on ice.’ Her Instagram is full of swimsuit and dress photos, and her model-level beauty on a global scale has made her popular,” said the sports newspaper desk cited above.

In fact, last November, she was chosen as a campaign model for Nike’s collaborative brand Nike SKIMS.

“Leerdam is glamorous even in her private life, and in spring 2025, her engagement to world-famous YouTube star and professional boxer Jake Paul made headlines. Speaking of Jake, his Tyson fight is famous. Leerdam appeared at the venue in a sexy dress with him, and after the match, she went up into the ring still wearing the dress, showing her stunning legs to the world in a way that amazed everyone. On the other hand, she also has a playful side, posting TikTok videos eating her favorite rice balls, commenting that tuna mayo is forever a favorite (laughs),” said the same sports desk.

Because of this, her noticeable behavior sometimes sparks controversy. Even in this tournament, her out-of-the-ordinary actions have drawn attention back home.

“Leerdam arrived in Milan not with the Dutch team, but on her boyfriend Paul’s luxurious private jet. Then she shared on Instagram that she was watching the opening ceremony on TV from her accommodation instead of attending, which drew criticism in the Netherlands. Domestically, she’s called the spoiled princess, but her stunning skating silenced those voices,” said the cited sports writer.

Leerdam attracts attention not only on the ice but also in her personal life. She was a large and beautiful wall standing in the way of Takagi’s quest for consecutive victories.