Lollobrigida Delivers Gold for Italy With Record-Breaking Skate

The roar inside the Milano Speed Skating Stadium on February 7, 2026, was deafening, and for good reason. It isn’t every day you witness history. It’s even rarer to see a home-town hero claim the ultimate prize on their birthday.

But that is exactly what Francesca Lollobrigida delivered.

In a performance that will be etched into Italian sporting history, the veteran skater claimed gold in the women’s 3000m speed skating event at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. It wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. Crossing the line on her 35th birthday, she stopped the clock at a blistering 3:54.28, setting a new Olympic record and securing Italy’s first gold medal of the tournament.

For the fans in the stands, it was the perfect start to the Games. For the speed skating world, it was a stunning upset that signaled a changing of the guard.

A Birthday Performance for the Ages

The pressure on host-nation athletes is always immense. The weight of expectation can either crush a competitor or fuel them. Known for her tactical intelligence, the four-time Olympian executed a race plan that was aggressive from the opening gun. The time of 3:54.28 didn’t just win the race; it established a new Olympic record.

After the race, an emotional Lollobrigida described the day as “perfect,” acknowledging the boost she received from having her family in the stands. Winning gold is the pinnacle of a career; doing it with a record-breaking performance on your birthday, on home soil, is the stuff of fairy tales.

The Mother of All Comebacks

After earning medals at the Beijing 2022 Games, Lollobrigida stepped away from the sport to start a family. She took maternity leave and gave birth in 2023. In the world of elite endurance sports, a hiatus like that often signals the beginning of the end. Many doubted she could return.

Lollobrigida didn’t give up, and she chose to return to the ice in 2023 to train for the Olympics. Especially with it being in Italy, it was the perfect venue for her to get a medal in front of friends and family. Well mission accomplished, and it was cool seeing her celebrate with her son.

Energizing a Nation

The immediate impact of this win for Italy cannot be overstated. Hosting the Olympics is a massive undertaking, and early results set the tone for the entire delegation. Lollobrigida’s gold has energized the Italian team and the local fans, providing a massive morale boost right at the start of the tournament. Team officials are already celebrating this as a defining moment for the host nation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the winning time for the women’s 3000m?
Francesca Lollobrigida won gold with a time of 3:54.28, setting a new Olympic record.

Has Italy won gold in this event before?
No. This victory marked Italy’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in women’s speed skating. It was also the first gold medal for the host nation at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games.

Who else was on the podium?
Ragne Wiklund of Norway took the silver medal, while Canada’s Valérie Maltais secured the bronze.

A Legacy Cemented

With the gold medal around her neck, Lollobrigida will enjoy a well-deserved round of media duties and celebrations. But the Games are far from over, and her competitors will be making tactical adjustments.

However, regardless of what happens in the remaining events, Francesca Lollobrigida’s Olympic-record victory stands as a high-water mark. It is a resonant human story of a hometown champion returning from maternity leave to deliver on the world’s biggest stage. The ice in Milan is fast, the crowds are loud, and as we just witnessed, the history books are ready to be rewritten.