At the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Italian speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida made history by winning the first-ever Olympic gold medal in women's speed skating for Italy. She achieved this remarkable feat on her birthday, setting a new Olympic record of 3:54.28 in the women's 3000 meters, surpassing the previous record of 3:56.93 set by Dutch skater Irene Schouten at the Beijing 2022 Olympics. Her performance not only brought Italy its first gold medal of these Games but also marked a significant moment in the country's sports history.

Lollobrigida's victory was especially impressive as she finished the race more than two seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. Norwegian skater Ragne Wiklund secured the silver medal with a time of 3:56.54, while Canadian Valerie Maltais took home the bronze with a finishing time of 3:56.93. Notably, Dutch skater Joy Beune, who was also a strong contender, finished fourth and missed out on a medal by a significant margin of almost four seconds. This clearly demonstrates Lollobrigida's dominance in the event.

At 35 years old, Lollobrigida achieved her third Olympic medal, previously claiming silver in the same distance at the Beijing Games and a bronze in the mass start. Her remarkable career achievements and this latest victory not only highlight her exceptional talent and dedication to the sport but also inspire a new generation of athletes in Italy and beyond. With this win, Lollobrigida has cemented her legacy as one of Italy's greatest winter sport athletes.