Jutta Leerdam will no longer skate in the yellow Jumbo suit. Sven Kramer announced yesterday that Leerdam was too demanding. Kramer stated on Monday that there is no one above the team when he had to explain why he had permanently stopped contract negotiations on behalf of Jumbo-Visma. He said there was a good offer for Leerdam. “We did not sense the conviction in her that we believe is necessary to be successful together,” says Kramer. “That is why we decided last week to stop discussions and end the collaboration.”
Leerdam (25) feels uncomfortable with how this is communicated from the team. She lives and works on the Caribbean island where she has lived with her boyfriend Jake Paul since the end of the last skating season.
Leerdam says: ‘I wish them the best, because I know they are looking for sponsors and I don’t want to stand in their way. But I’m not a diva at all, I’m a winner. They are now throwing it at my stigma. I do indeed wear make-up, like nice clothes and am active on social media. If I really were a diva, I would have chosen the money. But that’s not what it’s about for me, I skate for the gold and the route that takes me there. I want to win that gold medal at all costs.”I like make-up and beautiful clothes and winning
Leerdam: “Sven thinks it is about a negotiation or an offer. It’s not about salary at all for me, despite their good financial offer, I actually wanted something different from a sporting point of view. I have suggested many alternatives, but to no avail. Then it is better to split up. I certainly don’t want to sling mud, but how this is communicated is disrespectful and seems like damage control. I wanted to improve in the sports technical sphere, something that will help me further. I need that, I feel that. But they didn’t want to change anything and wanted everything to stay the same. With Jac the emphasis is more on the basics, and I come from a background where the vision was different and more specific. It went well for a while, but for now I need something extra. I was always extremely challenged technically in skating. I miss that. It just felt too safe for me. Again, I don’t want to sling mud and I respect Jac’s views, but this is what my gut says. I have always listened to my heart and I do that now too. I wasn’t going to give an interview about this until it was all about Jutta again.”