The athlete could not hold back her tears, setting a new Olympic record on February 9, covering 1 thousand meters with a result of 1.12.31.
“This photo captures everything my Olympics means to me. This moment proves that you don't have to become a lesser version of yourself to achieve something great. That your appearance does not define you as a person or as an athlete. That if you work hard and stay determined, everything will work out,” Lerdam wrote.
She noted that she was criticized more than once during her career for bright makeup and winged eyes.
“The pressure I felt, the judgment I faced about so many things, the hard work I put in for so many years, it all came together in this moment. I never felt the need to prove anything. I did this for myself, for the earlier version of myself, for my family and for all the women who don't want to be boxed in and just want to be themselves,” the champion added.
Leerdam emphasized that her photo with running mascara is a reminder that you can be “soft and strong, disciplined and feminine” at the same time.
“Never let anyone dim your light,” she concluded.
Context
At the Olympics in Milan, Leerdam won two awards – gold with an Olympic record at a distance of 1 thousand m and silver in the 500 m. At the Olympic Games in 2022, the athlete received a silver medal in the 1 thousand m distance.
