Both skaters showed impressive results previously. In Milan-Cortina, Leerdam clinched silver in the 500 meters and gold in the 1,000 meters. Stolz also topped the podium with golds in both events, setting Olympic records along the way.
The collaboration between them is rather informal but fruitful. The two worked together on stationary bikes and on ice. Leerdam appreciated Stolz's skills, saying, "He's super good at skating. I understand his timing when you skate behind someone. It can always help."
Stolz, only 21 years old during these events, has set his sights on winning four gold medals at a single Winter Olympics, a feat achieved by just three athletes before him. His focus remains strong as he prepares for the 1,500-meter event with confidence: "Right now, my speed and endurance feel really good. So if I skate a clean race, it should be a good result."
Training together helped both skaters get better. Skating behind top competitors allows athletes to gauge pacing and refine techniques—a strategy both Stolz and Leerdam used effectively.
Meanwhile, off the ice, Leerdam shares a personal connection with YouTuber and boxer Jake Paul as her fiancé. He emotionally supported her during her medal victories.
As they gear up for future competitions, there's potential for their training session to give them an upper hand at [Winter Olympics history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Olympics).