Speed skating: Inspired Francesca Lollobrigida wins Italy’s first gold of Games
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Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida in action during the women’s 3,000 metres speed skating on Feb 7.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- Francesca Lollobrigida won Italy's first gold in the Milano Cortina Winter Games in 3,000m speed skating.
- Lollobrigida's time was 3:54.28, beating Norway's Ragne Wiklund by 2.26 seconds.
- The victory ended the Netherlands' dominance, though they still lead in Olympic gold medals with 48.
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MILAN - Francesca Lollobrigida powered to victory in the women’s 3,000 metres speed skating on Feb 7, bringing Italy its first gold medal of the Milano Cortina Winter Games and ending the Netherlands’ run of three consecutive Olympic titles in the discipline.
Norway’s Ragne Wiklund and Canada’s Valerie Maltais joined her on the podium as the speed skating programme got under way at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium.
Lollobrigida clocked three minutes and 54.28 seconds to finish 2.26 seconds ahead of Wiklund.
Skating in her fourth Olympics, Lollobrigida produced an inspired performance to secure her first gold medal, adding to the 3,000m silver and mass start bronze she won at Beijing in 2022.
Celebrating her 35th birthday, she carried the weight of home expectations and lived up to them.
Her victory ended a formidable Dutch legacy in the 3,000m. The Netherlands famously swept the podium at PyeongChang 2018, and Irene Schouten won gold at Beijing 2022 before retiring.
In Milan, Marijke Groenewoud and Joy Beune were again seen as leading Dutch contenders to extend that dominance, as was Wiklund - but Lollobrigida had other ideas.
The Netherlands remains the sport’s powerhouse, with a record 48 Olympic gold medals - well clear of the US (30) and Norway (28).
Lollobrigida’s victory was Italy’s third Olympic gold in speed skating. REUTERS
