Italy’s Lollobrigida breaks women’s 3,000m speed skating Olympic record to win maiden gold

Italian veteran Francesca Lollobrigida broke the Olympic record in the women’s 3,000m speed skating event to win her first Olympic gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games today.

Competing in her fourth Winter Olympics, the 35-year-old clocked 3 minutes 54.28 seconds to deliver the host nation its first gold medal of the Games, surpassing the previous Olympic record set by Irene Schouten of the Netherlands at the Beijing Games four years ago.

“This is the best day ever, a perfect day,” Lollobrigida said. “My son, my husband and my family were here watching me. It’s incredible because we are in Italy. The Olympics are in Italy. This is the dream of my dreams.”

Lollobrigida, who had finished fourth in the 5,000m, third in the mass start and second in the 3,000m at Beijing 2022 , defeated title favourite and reigning world champion Joy Beune of the Netherlands , who finished fourth in 3:58.12 .

“The message I wanted to show is that I didn’t choose between skating and being a mum,” she added. “I stopped after my silver medal in Beijing when I was on top of the world. I am really proud that I came back after giving birth.”

Ragne Wiklund of Norway won silver in 3:56.54 , while Canada’s Valerie Maltais claimed bronze with a time of 3:56.93 .