Francesca Lollobrigida Secures Italy’s Winter Olympic Gold and Day’s Highlight
Francesca Lollobrigida has made history at the 2026 Winter Olympics by winning Italy’s first gold medal in a captivating women’s 3,000-meter race.
Historic Olympic Achievement
On the first day of the Winter Olympics in Milan, Lollobrigida marked her 35th birthday with a stunning performance. She finished with an Olympic record time of 3 minutes, 54.28 seconds, surpassing Norway’s Ragne Wiklund, who took silver with a time of 3:56.54.
Canadian skater Valérie Maltais claimed the bronze medal, finishing in 3:56.93.
Emotional Victory
Lollobrigida’s journey to gold was inspiring. On the ice, she was cheered by a passionate home crowd, and after her victory, she joyfully embraced her two-year-old son, Tommaso. “This is not just for me but for those who believed I could achieve this,” she stated, highlighting her determination as both an athlete and a mother.
Defying Challenges
Balancing motherhood and training is no easy feat. Lollobrigida spends around 250 days away from home annually for competitions. Despite this, she returned to competitive skating only six months after Tommaso was born in May 2023.
A Legacy in Progress
Francesca’s Olympic journey did not start with this gold. She has previously earned silver and bronze medals at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. This latest victory completes her set of Olympic medals, showcasing her career’s incredible trajectory.
She credits her success to teamwork and the support of her family, especially her husband, whom she thanked for his unwavering belief in her abilities.
Future Aspirations
Lollobrigida is not ready to slow down. She remains the reigning world champion in the 5,000 meters and plans to compete in this event later in the Olympic games. Despite facing training challenges, including health issues leading up to the Games, her performance has defied expectations.
Final Thoughts
This gold medal is a testament to Lollobrigida’s resilience and dedication. As she prepares for her next race, she continues to inspire both athletes and parents around the world.
