Italy's Lollobrigida Shatters Olympic Record on 35th Birthday with Speed Skating Gold

Francesca Lollobrigida sent the home crowd at the Oval Lingotto into euphoria on Friday, February 7, as she captured Italy's first gold medal of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics with a stunning performance in the women's 3000m speed skating event. The 35-year-old veteran smashed the Olympic record with a time of 3:54.28, surpassing retired Dutch superstar Irene Schouten's previous mark of 3:56.93 set at the Beijing 2022 Games. The historic achievement came on Lollobrigida's birthday, making the moment even more memorable for the four-time Olympian.

Lollobrigida's dominance was evident from the opening laps as she maintained an aggressive pace that her competitors simply couldn't match. Norway's Ragne Wiklund claimed the silver medal with a time of 3:56.54, while Canada's Valerie Maltais rounded out the podium in third place at 3:56.93, matching Schouten's previous Olympic record. The Italian champion's winning margin of over two seconds in an event decided by fractions demonstrated her exceptional form and preparation leading into the home Games.

The emotional victory represents the culmination of years of dedication for Lollobrigida, who has competed at four Olympic Winter Games spanning from Sochi 2014 to Milano Cortina 2026. Throughout her career, she has been known for her consistency and longevity in a physically demanding sport that typically favors younger athletes. Her ability to produce her finest performance at age 35 on home ice speaks to her remarkable athleticism and mental fortitude under the immense pressure of competing in front of Italian fans.

The capacity crowd at the Oval Lingotto created an electric atmosphere throughout the race, with deafening cheers echoing through the venue as Lollobrigida crossed the finish line. The celebration that followed saw her draped in the Italian flag, tears streaming down her face as the magnitude of her achievement sank in. For a nation eagerly anticipating success at their home Olympics, Lollobrigida's gold medal provided the perfect start to Italy's medal campaign in Milano Cortina.

Lollobrigida's performance also highlights the evolution of Italian speed skating, which has emerged as a competitive force on the international stage in recent years. Her Olympic record time demonstrates that the gap between traditional powerhouses like the Netherlands and Norway and emerging nations continues to narrow. The state-of-the-art Oval Lingotto venue, purpose-built for these Games, provided ideal conditions that enabled Lollobrigida to push the boundaries of what's possible in women's long-distance speed skating.

As the Games progress, Lollobrigida's golden moment will be remembered as one of the defining images of Milano Cortina 2026. Her birthday triumph not only secured Italy's first gold medal but also inspired a nation and proved that age is merely a number when combined with skill, determination, and the advantage of competing on home ice. The record-breaking performance sets a new standard for future generations of speed skaters and cements Lollobrigida's legacy as one of Italy's greatest Winter Olympic athletes.