Francesca Lollobrigida Powers to Historic Gold for Italy at Milano Cortina Games
In a stunning performance that electrified the home crowd, Italian speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida claimed victory in the women's 3,000 metres event on Saturday, delivering Italy its first gold medal of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The triumph not only marked a personal milestone for the 35-year-old athlete but also shattered a formidable Dutch stranglehold on the distance, which had seen the Netherlands secure three consecutive Olympic titles.
Record-Breaking Performance on a Special Day
Competing on her birthday and in her fourth Olympic appearance, Lollobrigida turned immense pressure into pure speed, tearing around the oval at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium to set a new Olympic record. She stopped the clock at three minutes and 54.28 seconds, finishing a remarkable 2.26 seconds ahead of Norway's Ragne Wiklund, who took silver. Canada's Valerie Maltais joined them on the podium, securing bronze as the speed skating programme kicked off in spectacular fashion.
This victory represents Italy's first-ever women's speed skating Olympic title, adding a glorious chapter to Lollobrigida's career. It is her first Olympic gold, building upon the 3,000m silver and mass start bronze she earned at the Beijing 2022 Games. Drawn in the eighth pair alongside Maltais and starting in the outer lane, Lollobrigida engaged in a fierce battle with the Canadian before pulling decisively ahead to seal her historic win.
Emotional Celebration with Family and Fans
Upon realizing her triumph, an emotional Lollobrigida wrapped herself in the Italian flag and sprinted to celebrate with her two-year-old son, who was among the roaring home supporters. "This medal means a lot, but also a demonstration - the fact of not giving up, to start a family, to become a mother and to come back to race," she said in a heartfelt post-race interview.
She further expressed her joy at competing in Italy with her loved ones present: "Being in Italy, knowing my son, my husband, my mum, my dad, my sister, all my friends were here ... I was really happy. I did it for myself, but also for all those who have always believed in me." Lollobrigida, the great-niece of late film icon Gina Lollobrigida and cousin of Italy's Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, soaked in the moment as the stadium erupted around her.
Ending Dutch Dominance in the 3,000m
Lollobrigida's victory decisively ended a dominant Dutch legacy in the women's 3,000m event. The Netherlands had famously swept the podium at PyeongChang 2018, while Irene Schouten won gold at Beijing 2022 before retiring. In Milan, Dutch contenders Joy Beune and Marijke Groenewoud were seen as leading threats to extend that dominance, alongside Wiklund, but Lollobrigida had other plans.
Beune finished fourth and Groenewoud eighth in the final standings, while Canada's Isabelle Weidemann—a triple medallist in Beijing—placed fifth. Despite this setback, the Netherlands remains speed skating's powerhouse nation, boasting a record 48 Olympic gold medals, well ahead of the United States (30) and Norway (28). Lollobrigida's gold marks Italy's third Olympic title in speed skating history, underscoring her achievement as a landmark moment for Italian winter sports.
