THE INSTAGRAM MOVE: WHAT JAKE PAUL ACTUALLY SAID IN JUTTA LEERDAM’S FIRST DM
"I can't stop crying!" Jake Paul reacts to Jutta Leerdam's historic gold medal in Milan. Discover how their romance first started.
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After Jake Paul celebrated his fiancée Jutta Leerdam's Olympic gold on Monday, the story of how they first connected has come out.
Paul, who fought Anthony Joshua in a Netflix event in December, was at the Games in Milan-Cortina to watch Leerdam compete in speed skating.
Leerdam, representing the Netherlands, had won silver at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. But after a fall during qualifying for the 1000m event, it seemed like she might miss the 2026 Games.
Paul said his heart is broken after seeing the accident, which put her Olympic hopes in doubt.
Even so, the 27-year-old was chosen to compete. On Monday, she won a gold medal in the 1000m race with an amazing performance.
Leerdam finished in 1:12:31, setting an Olympic record and beating her fellow Dutch skater, Femke Kok. She was emotional as she finished, and so was Paul, who was seen crying as he celebrated with his family.
He posted on X, formerly Twitter: Juttttttttttaaaaaaaa. I can’t stop crying. You did it, my love. Olympic Gold. God is great, and so are you.
Paul and Leerdam made their relationship public in April 2023. But they started talking on Instagram before that.
Leerdman said that Paul, the YouTuber-turned-boxer, messaged her first. He asked her to be on his podcast. She had been dating Dutch speed skater Koen Verweij for five years before.
“Jake sent me a DM on Instagram and asked if I wanted to be on his podcast,” Leerdman said in the 'Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson' documentary.
“And I was like, ‘Okay, let’s do it. Can be good, can be nice.’”
She said she didn't expect a romance to happen, but she found him to be the complete opposite of what people think.
Leerdman said, 'I never expected to date him, like, never.' Of course, I didn’t know a lot about him. I could only scroll on his Instagram and form an opinionase the whole world does. But he is the complete opposite.”
They announced their engagement in March 2025 and have been there for each other's important events, from big boxing matches to the Olympics.
In the documentary, he called her the most amazing woman there is, “a superwoman and the sweetest soul in the world.
Leerdman won the 1000 m world title twice, in 2020 and 2023. She was the first person from the Netherlands to win gold at this year's event.
TY SIMPSON OFFICIALLY ENTERS QB1 CONVERSATION FOR 2026 NFL DRAFT AFTER BAMA RUN
Ty Simpson challenges Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza for QB1 status in the 2026 NFL Draft after a breakout Bama season.
After waiting behind Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson’s only season as Alabama’s starter has propelled him into serious first-round talk for the 2026 NFL Draft. He’s even being discussed as the top quarterback prospect over Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza, according to ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky.
But not everyone agrees. Former LSU standout Breiden Fehoko tweeted his scepticism: 'Ty Simpson wasn’t even going to start at Bama in 2026, and here y’all go calling him QB1 this draft.' This is how GMs get fired. Watch.
Orlovsky, however, stands by his view that Simpson holds the edge over Mendoza. He pointed out that when comparing their bodies of work, Simpson carried more of the load for his team. The gap, he says, is clear when you consider who had to do more and who won more games during the season: that’s Simpson, no contest.
Mendoza enters the draft after an extraordinary season. He led Indiana to an undefeated national championship and took home the Heisman Trophy. Scouts see him as the most pro-ready passer but have concerns over his pressure-to-sack rate, which hovers around 18.9%, potentially an issue for teams with weak offensive lines.
Meanwhile, Simpson’s draft stock rose sharply during a strong four-game run facing Georgia, Vanderbilt, Missouri, and Tennessee. His upcoming performance at Alabama’s Pro Day could be crucial, especially for teams looking at quarterbacks who bring mobility and playmaking alongside pocket passing.
Simpson’s experience is limited to just 15 college games, thanks to the stacked quarterback depth at Alabama. Still, once he became the starter, he delivered solid numbers: 3,567 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 5 interceptions in the 2025 season.
Former NFL safety Louis Riddick has been vocal about Simpson’s potential. Speaking on ESPN, Riddick said that seeing him throw in person reveals the kind of physical talent Simpson has. He’s confident in Simpson’s mental game but notes the physical attributes will really stand out when seen up close. Riddick expects Simpson to continue improving his draft stock.
Simpson will get another chance to impress scouts at Alabama’s Pro Day on Wednesday, which could be pivotal in shaping his position ahead of the draft.
MASTERS UPDATE: TIGER WOODS CONFIRMS HE WILL ATTEND AUGUSTA NATIONAL "EITHER WAY" FOR 2026
Tiger Woods admits to a "rough road" after a frustrated TGL return, leaving his 2026 Masters status in serious doubt.
Tiger Woods says he’s still trying to get fit for The Masters next month, but he knows the clock’s not exactly on his side.
He made his golf comeback with Jupiter Links GC in Tomorrow’s Golf League, teaming up with Tom Kim and Max Homa. It’s been a while since Woods last played TGL in February 2025, when he tore his Achilles and had disc replacement surgery in his back. So, yeah, it’s been a rough road.
After his return on Tuesday, Woods didn’t sugarcoat things. He gave a pretty honest update about his chances at Augusta this year. You can tell he’s been keeping the door open for the 2026 Masters, but honestly, his appearance for Jupiter Links might’ve shaken up those plans.
Things actually started off looking good. Woods smashed a 279-yard drive on the second hole; it felt like a flash from the old Tiger. But that faded fast. His game unravelled, and by the seventh hole, he missed a three-yard putt, slammed his club into the ground, and his frustration was obvious.
Woods and his teammates just couldn’t keep up, and Jupiter Links ended up losing 9-2 to the Los Angeles Golf Club trio of Justin Rose, Sahith Theegala, and Tommy Fleetwood.
Afterwards, Tiger didn’t hold back: “We got our arse kicked. Three eagles in a row… I missed a short one to give them momentum, and we never got it back.”
Reporters quickly shifted the focus to The Masters. Even after a disappointing night, Woods still wants to play at Augusta National. “I want to play. I love the tournament. I’m going to be there either way with The Loop that's going up there, as well as the champions dinner. We’ll see how it goes. I’ll be practising and playing at home this week and keep trying to make progress.”
Honestly, it’s obvious why Woods wants to tee it up at Augusta. He’s won The Masters five times (1997, 2001, 2002, 2005, and 2019) and made the cut a record 24 times. Looking at how things went in his latest outing, though, it’s hard to picture him adding to those numbers in a few weeks. But if anyone can surprise people, it’s probably Tiger.
