The Italian cross-country skiing team has made history at the home Olympics by securing its first-ever medal in the team sprint event using the freestyle technique, a discipline previously challenging for Italian athletes. Federico Pellegrino and Elia Barp competed fiercely, despite facing formidable rivals from Norway and the strong American duo. In a nail-biting final lap, the Italians almost achieved a remarkable upset but ultimately had to settle for the bronze medal after struggling to keep up with the USA team.

Earlier in the day, the women's team sprint event also took place, where the duo of Iris De Martin Pinter and Caterina Ganz delivered a commendable performance, finishing in an honorable eighth place. Their participation, while not medal-winning, adds to the progress and visibility of Italian female athletes in this sport. The strong showings at this Olympics are significant for Italian skiing, indicating a potential rise in future competitions.

This event highlights a turning point for Italian cross-country skiing, where historically, achievements in such individual and team events have been limited. The emotional win brings renewed excitement and support for winter sports in Italy, with fans cheering for their athletes who are now inspired to perform at even higher levels at subsequent international contests.