Dutch speed-skating star Jutta Leerdam was blasted as “arrogant” and a “diva” for flying to the Olympics on a private jet instead of making the trip to Italy alongside her fellow compatriots.
Jutta Leerdam, who is engaged to boxing sensation Jake Paul, shared several photos of herself and friends partying on the private Kimi flight with the caption “Off to Milano,” on Instagram Sunday.
However, famed Dutch soccer player turned sports reporter Johan Derksen took exception to the Olympian and her entourage’s antics ahead of the historic event.
“(Leerdam) should want it of her own accord. She’s already living like a millionaire, with private jets and everything,” Derksen said, according to the Daily Mail.
The 27-year-old Netherlands-native, wearing her country’s Olympic team apparel, snacked on custom-made cupcakes, which had “Success Jutta” written in Dutch above the logo of the Olympic rings, while glasses of champagne sat around the cabin.
During the flight, Leerdam and her travel buddies were served a variety of salads consisting of tuna, steak and shrimp as Olympic-themed decorations adorned the aircraft.
“Her behavior is horrible to me, like that of a diva. If I were her coach, I wouldn’t tolerate that,” Derksen exclaimed. “Gradually the whole of the Netherlands is starting to get a bit fed up with her behavior.”
Paul supported his future wife by commenting under her post, “Time to shine.”
The 2026 Milano-Cortina Games will mark Leerdam’s second Olympic appearance. She earned the silver medal in women’s 1000 meters at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Leerdam, the second-ranked speed skater in the world, will look to win her first gold in both the 1000m and 500m speed skating events on Feb. 9 and Feb. 15.
Leerdam is a multi-time gold medalist at the speedskating World Cup and holds the world record for women’s team sprint with a time of 1:24.02 with fellow teammates Letitia de Jong and Femke Kok.
Social media users were left appalled by the self-inflation Leerdam gave herself with the private jet flight.
“Oh Jutta, you understand so little about life…a private flight?! What do you mean, ‘team’ Holland?” one commenter asked.
“As a Team NL member, flying to a sporting event in your private jet, eating sushi with your friends? That doesn’t reflect well, in my opinion,” another said.
“Embarrassing and decadent arrival,” a third wrote.
“It’s rather arrogant to travel to Milan in a private jet and put yourself above @teamnl, isn’t it? Jutta… I hope you manage to stay on your skates this time. Good luck,” one comment read, alluding to Leerdam’s catastrophic crash during Olympic trials in December.
Some users questioned Leerdam’s traveling decision as a contribution to climate change.
“A private jet to the Winter Games. An interesting choice?” one said.
“Those private flights are wonderful. The more pollution, the better…” another added.
“Good luck at the Games! A private jet like that really sets a bad example for your fans… There’s already less and less natural ice due to the climate crisis,” said a third.
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