Jutta Leerdam’s Parents Turned Down Her “Better” Opportunity ⛸️ Jutta Leerdam | Speed Skating | 6× World Champion • Olympic Gold Medalist Jutta was one of the best hockey players in her age group when a bigger club came calling. Better coaches. A more elite program. A bigger opportunity. Her parents said no. Not because Jutta wasn’t good enough. The commute was brutal, and they understood something many sports parents forget: “Better for her sports career” isn’t always the same as “better for our kid.” Two years later, Jutta, then 11, tried speed skating almost as an afterthought. Her technique wasn’t great. But she had strength, powerful legs and an engine that wouldn’t stop. By 13, she was a European champion for her age group. Then came the Ice time, blades, new boots every time her feet grew, weekend travel to regional meets. Jutta couldn’t get a part-time job. Training took all her time. So her parents — a tomato farmer and his wife paid for it themselves. When the co...