Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam’s Olympic suit from the Winter Olympics sold for €195,000 (£170,453) at auction, breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s record on sports memorabilia platform MWS
Jutta Leerdam’s racing suit from her medal-winning performances at the Winter Olympics in Milan has fetched €195,000 (£170,453) at auction. The Dutch speed skater claimed gold in the 1000m and silver in the 500m last month.
The auction, organised by TeamNL and NOS*NSF (The Dutch Olympic Committee*Dutch Sports Federation), featured sports memorabilia from the Winter Olympics, with 86 outfits and items worn by the Dutch speed skating squad going under the hammer.
A total of €275,345 (£240,684k) was raised, with Leerdam’s suit commanding the highest price, and all proceeds benefiting the local sports clubs where the Olympians first started their sporting journeys.
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Leerdam’s sale established a new record on sports memorabilia platform MWS (MatchWornShirt), previously held by Cristiano Ronaldo. The footballer’s match-worn shirt from Portugal’s clash against Hungary last year sold for just under €63,000 (£55,000).
A fierce bidding battle for the suit saw the price soar from £8,416 to over £170,000 in merely a few hours. The successful bidder hailed from Leerdam’s homeland of the Netherlands.
The funds generated from the auction will benefit IJsvereniging Pijnacker (IJVP), the club where Leerdam trained as a youngster. “We are incredibly happy with this and feel a responsibility to carefully consider how we can best use this wonderful amount,” chairman Johan van Dam said.
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Club official Jacquielin van Winden told Dutch media outlet Omroep West that they would consult with the Leerdam family about what to do with the funds. “This is incredible. We are absolutely gobsmacked as we watched it,” she said.
“I want to discuss it with NOC*NSF and the Leerdam family first. And of course, I want to extend my thanks to them as well.”
The jacket Leerdam donned at the closing ceremony was the second highest bid item, fetching €4,826 (£4,218). Femke Kok, who edged out Leerdam for the gold in the 500m, also had memorabilia auctioned, with her suit worn for the 500, 1000m and 1500m races selling for €4,602 (£4,022).
Kjeld Nuis’ suit from his 1500 final race, where he clinched bronze, sold for €1,010 (£882.87) and a flag carried by Jens van’t Wout and Kimberley Bos at the opening ceremony fetched €400 (£349.65), whilst Jorrit Bergsma’s headband went for €370 (£323.43).