Jutta Leerdam breaks radio silence by crying after her failure in the World Cup after a terrible period: “Of course I became insecure” | More sports

Leerdam is an absolute star in skating. Two-time world champion, three-time European champion, and Olympic silver medalist in the 1000 metres. Two-time world champion in team racing. Two-time European champion in the individual sprint. And so on and so on. Sky is the limit For Dutch.

Until a few months ago. Leerdam suddenly began to perform poorly. The reason was twofold. First, she injured her left ankle. The pain was getting worse every day. What is most disturbing is that the cause was not immediately found. Frustrations flared up in Leerdam. “I can't do anything in terms of coordination. In the last few weeks, I haven't even been able to dig deep into it, I've just fallen flat. I don't feel like myself at all. I hope we can work it out, because I don't enjoy it that way. “It's getting worse.”

Moreover, during the same period her mother fell ill. Of course, that's what crossed her mind as well.

The minimum was reached on January 26, 2024. She finished 11th at the World Cup in Salt Lake City. She couldn't handle her emotions. Her Jumbo team imposed a media hiatus for this reason. Nothing else is connected. So we were curious to see how she performed yesterday at the World Speed ​​Skating Championships in Calgary – where Swings was crowned mass start world champion. In her discipline: 1000 metres.

Suddenly the sky seemed clear. Because after 600 meters she was on her way to extending her world title. But things still got worse in the final round. You made technical mistakes, you didn't skate the right lines. Suddenly it no longer works. A Japanese and a Chinese woman passed by. From heaven to hell. once again.

Can't be satisfied with bronze. And it showed that too. There is no longer a media pause. “If I just pass, I win.” Now that she shared her feelings with the outside world for the first time, tears also flowed. “Finally I felt good again. I could stand on two feet again and you could see right away how fast I could drive. I wanted revenge. I wanted to prove myself even more. And on that last lap I suddenly started driving very fast. I wanted it so much I destroyed it myself.” “This is frustrating. I lacked the self-confidence to keep the peace. Eleventh in the World Cup… Of course this made me feel insecure.”

And so Leerdam spoke again as skating followers are accustomed to. With our hearts on our sleeve, without diversions. Such a complete media hiatus does not actually suit her, as she is an athlete who regularly breaks taboos in interviews. “I also want to be honest and transparent. People usually like that too. Just: Everything that could go wrong, went wrong this season. And the coaches thought I couldn't let go of that if I kept talking about it all the time. I find it hard “To say no, so they made that decision. And I understood that.”

Leerdam hopes to salvage her season at the World Sprint Championships in mid-March. Although perhaps mental correction will be necessary again. “The coaches think I've already taken revenge. But it's still a shame.”