It was a birthday to remember for Francesca Lollobrigida, as the Italian speed skating sensation delivered a performance for the ages at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. On Saturday, February 7, 2026, Lollobrigida soared to victory in the women’s 3,000 meters speed skating event, not only clinching Italy’s first gold medal of these Games but also smashing the Olympic record in front of a jubilant home crowd. The cheers that erupted inside the Milano Speed Skating Stadium echoed far beyond the ice, marking a historic milestone for both the athlete and the host nation.
Competing on her 35th birthday, Lollobrigida’s triumph was a blend of determination, resilience, and sheer talent. She crossed the finish line in a blistering 3 minutes, 54.28 seconds, a time that left her more than two seconds ahead of Norway’s Ragne Wiklund, who claimed the silver with 3:56.54. Canada’s Valérie Maltais rounded out the podium, taking bronze in 3:56.93. The Italian’s record-setting performance was over two and a half seconds faster than the previous Olympic benchmark set by Irene Schouten at the 2022 Beijing Games—a margin that underscores just how dominant Lollobrigida was on this remarkable day.
For Lollobrigida, the road to Olympic gold has been anything but straightforward. This was her fourth Olympic appearance, and while she arrived in Milan already decorated with a silver (3,000m) and bronze (mass start) from Beijing 2022, the top step of the podium had always eluded her. In a candid moment before the Games, she revealed that she had considered retiring earlier in the season after battling the effects of a viral infection. "I really was lost," she admitted to reporters. "Even my son that was always smiling, my family, the federation, the coach, gave me power. So don't give up." Her perseverance paid off in spectacular fashion, as she captured not just her first Olympic gold, but also the first for an Italian woman in speed skating.
Born in Frascati, a picturesque hill town near Rome famous for its white wine, Lollobrigida has long been a familiar figure in Italian sports. Her great aunt was the late Gina Lollobrigida, a legendary actress of the 1950s and ’60s, but Francesca has carved out her own legacy on the ice. The mother of a two-year-old son, she’s become a symbol of dedication and resilience, inspiring countless fans both in Italy and around the world.
The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric even before the starting gun. Lollobrigida was greeted with a thunderous ovation during the athlete introductions, responding with a radiant smile, a wave of both arms, and a gesture of gratitude that endeared her further to the crowd. Racing alongside Maltais, Lollobrigida initially trailed at the first checkpoint, but she steadily gained ground, drawing strength from the roaring support of her countrymen and women. By the final lap, she had surged ahead, her arms swinging powerfully behind her as she powered toward the finish line.
As she crossed the line, the stadium erupted. But the drama wasn’t over yet. With four more skaters left to compete, Lollobrigida had to wait anxiously to see if her time would hold up. She could barely watch, often covering her eyes with her hands as each subsequent athlete took their turn on the ice. The tension was palpable, but it soon gave way to unbridled joy as it became clear that no one would come close to her record-breaking mark.
"The dream of the dream," Lollobrigida said, beaming with pride as she spoke to the media after her win. "I really worked hard but not just myself, it's like teamwork." Her gratitude extended to everyone who had supported her through the ups and downs, particularly in the challenging months leading up to the Games. The victory was not just a personal triumph but a testament to the collective effort of her family, coaches, and the Italian skating federation.
For Ragne Wiklund of Norway, the silver medal was also a momentous achievement. The reigning 2023 world champion in the 3,000 meters, Wiklund had never before reached the Olympic podium. "I'm very relieved," Wiklund told Olympics.com. "I was really hoping to be able to get a medal in this distance. It means a lot to me, I feel like I have been doing really well the last four years since the last Olympics, and I really felt like I deserved the medal, so I'm super happy." Her performance, though overshadowed by Lollobrigida’s heroics, was a testament to her consistency and determination on the world stage.
Canada’s Valérie Maltais, meanwhile, added another chapter to her storied Olympic career. With gold in the team pursuit at Beijing 2022 and a silver in short track from Sochi 2014 already on her resume, the bronze in Milan marked her third Olympic medal and her first individual podium finish. "Being my fifth Olympics, I went into that quadrennial [knowing] that I wanted to achieve an individual medal," she reflected. "Saying it was bold and training to be Olympic champion, and today I delivered a race that I needed to and I think other girls, too, delivered today." Maltais’s achievement highlights the depth and longevity required to compete at the highest level across multiple Olympic cycles.
Lollobrigida’s gold was more than just a personal milestone—it was a watershed moment for Italian speed skating. Before her silver in Beijing, no Italian woman had ever medaled in Olympic speed skating, let alone captured gold. Her victory in Milan marks a new era for the sport in Italy, inspiring a new generation of athletes and fans. The home crowd’s celebration was a fitting tribute to an athlete who has given everything to her sport and her country.
As the sun set over Milan and the celebrations continued, one thing was clear: Francesca Lollobrigida’s name will be forever etched in Olympic history. Her journey from the brink of retirement to the top of the podium is a story of hope, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of an athlete who refused to give up. For Italy, for speed skating, and for sports fans everywhere, this was a day to savor—a golden moment in every sense of the word.