Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam has been cleared of ambush marketing after revealing her Nike sports bra following her 1000 metre win.The 27-year-old, who is engaged to influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul, was overcome with emotion when she crossed the finish line and discovered she’d bagged Gold during the race on 9 February.She also claimed Silver in the Women’s 500m on February 15.Moments after her win, Leerdam pulled down the zip on her orange and blue skating suit, which showed a white Nike sports bra underneath — a move which marketing experts say could have earned her a hefty $1 million payday, thanks to her sponsorship with the sportswear brand.
While some people have accused the athlete of ambush marketing, especially since the skating suits are sponsored by FILA, International Olympic Committee TMS Managing Director Anne-Sophie Voumard doesn’t believe this to be the case.I’m not an expert in speed skating, but I understand this (unzipping the uniform after a race) is normal practice for speed skaters when they finish their race because the suit is very tight,” Voumard said,.“It is normal practice and not a case of ambush marketing.”The IOC’s marketing media guide for the 2026 Winter Olympics says ‘preserving the commercial value of the Olympic brand,’ is taken very seriously and that ‘unauthorised use of the Olympic rings or other Olympic properties – known as ambush marketing – can damage the integrity of the brand.’