Italy Wins First Gold as Milano Cortina Olympics Open

MILANO, ITALY — In a moment that will be remembered for generations, Italy's Francesca Lollobrigida delivered the perfect birthday gift to herself and her nation, winning gold in the women's 3,000-meter speed skating event and setting an Olympic record on her 35th birthday as the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics opened with spectacular fanfare.

The home crowd at the Oval Lingotto in Turin erupted in celebration as Lollobrigida crossed the finish line in 3:53.31, shaving 0.47 seconds off the previous Olympic record set by Martina Sáblíková of the Czech Republic at PyeongChang 2018. The Italian tricolor flags waved frantically throughout the venue as the realization set in: Italy had won its first gold medal of the home Games.

⛸️A Birthday Performance for the Ages

Racing in the penultimate pairing, Lollobrigida skated with a maturity and composure that comes from years of experience on the international circuit. Her technique was flawless—each stride powerful yet economical, her body position aerodynamic perfection as she navigated the seven-and-a-half lap race.

The Dutch skating powerhouse Irene Schouten, the defending Olympic champion and favorite coming into the event, pushed hard but couldn't match Lollobrigida's pace. Schouten settled for silver, 0.71 seconds behind, while Norway's Ragne Wiklund claimed bronze in 3:54.89.

🇮🇹From Bronze to Gold: Lollobrigida's Olympic Journey

Lollobrigida's victory represents the culmination of a remarkable career that has seen her evolve from a talented long-track specialist into one of the world's elite distance skaters. At the Beijing 2022 Olympics, she won bronze in the 3,000m and silver in the mass start, giving Italy its first Olympic speed skating medals in 16 years.

"To do this at home, on my birthday, in front of my family and my country—I have no words," Lollobrigida said through tears during the post-race interview, her voice breaking with emotion. "This is not just my gold medal. This is for every little girl in Italy who dreams of standing on this podium."

"To do this at home, on my birthday, in front of my family and my country—I have no words. This is not just my gold medal. This is for every little girl in Italy who dreams of standing on this podium."

The 35-year-old has been Italy's flag bearer for speed skating over the past Olympic cycle. She won the overall World Cup title in the 3,000m/5,000m classification in 2023-24 and claimed multiple World Championship medals. Her consistency and longevity in a sport that often favors younger athletes have made her a role model across Italy.

🏅Historic Significance for Italy

Italy's first gold of Milano Cortina 2026 couldn't have come at a better moment. As host nation, the pressure to perform has been immense, with Italian media and fans eagerly anticipating the moment when one of their own would stand atop the podium.

Speed skating has traditionally been dominated by the Netherlands, Norway, and other northern European nations with long winter sports traditions. Italy's success in the discipline represents a shift in the global landscape of the sport and validates years of investment in training facilities and athlete development programs.

The last time Italy won Olympic speed skating gold was in 2006 at the Turin Games, where Enrico Fabris claimed three gold medals including the 5,000m, 1,500m, and team pursuit. Lollobrigida's victory reignites those memories and establishes her as one of Italy's greatest winter Olympians.

🎉Deafening Support from Home Crowd

The atmosphere inside the Oval Lingotto was electric from the moment Lollobrigida stepped onto the ice. Every lap was met with crescendoing cheers, rhythmic clapping, and chants of "Italia! Italia!" The noise reached a fever pitch as she entered the final lap with the Olympic record clearly within reach.

When her time flashed on the scoreboard—3:53.31 in gold next to "OR" for Olympic Record—the building erupted. Fans leaped from their seats, embraced strangers, and waved Italian flags in joyous celebration. It was a moment of pure sporting euphoria that will be replayed on Italian television for decades to come.

"The energy from the crowd gave me wings," Lollobrigida said. "I could feel every person in that arena pushing me forward. This is what home advantage means. This is what the Olympics are about."

📊Breaking Down the Record-Breaking Performance

Lollobrigida's winning time of 3:53.31 was the result of near-perfect pacing and exceptional technical execution. Her lap times were remarkably consistent, avoiding the common pitfall of starting too fast and fading in the final laps.

Speed skating analysts noted that Lollobrigida's crossover technique in the corners—where skaters gain or lose crucial fractions of seconds—was textbook perfect. Her ability to maintain power output deep into the race, when fatigue typically sets in, demonstrated her world-class conditioning and mental toughness.

💬Global Reaction and What's Next

The victory has dominated headlines across Italian media, with major newspapers running special editions celebrating the gold medal. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni posted on social media: "Francesca Lollobrigida has given Italy an unforgettable gift. Her courage, dedication, and excellence represent the best of our nation. Brava, Francesca!"

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, attending the event, praised the performance: "This is Olympic sport at its finest—an athlete performing at their peak on the biggest stage, inspired by the support of their home nation. Congratulations to Francesca and to Italy."

Lollobrigida will compete again in the women's 5,000m on February 12 and the mass start on February 17. After her record-breaking performance, she enters both events as a favorite, potentially adding to Italy's medal haul at these historic home Olympics.

🔮Milano Cortina 2026: A Golden Start

Italy's first gold medal sets a triumphant tone for the rest of the Milano Cortina Games. With competitions now underway across multiple venues in Milano, Cortina d'Ampezzo, and surrounding regions, Italian athletes will look to build on Lollobrigida's momentum.

Italy has strong medal contenders in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, short track speed skating, and freestyle skiing. The expectation is for the host nation to deliver its best Winter Olympics performance since Turin 2006, where Italy won 11 medals.

For now, though, this moment belongs entirely to Francesca Lollobrigida—the 35-year-old who gave herself and her nation the ultimate birthday present: Olympic gold and an Olympic record that will stand in the history books forever.