Italy secures first gold of Milano Cortina Olympics with speedskater Francesca Lollobrigida's stunning upset. The Italian athlete, on her 35th birthday, shattered the Olympic record in the women's 3000 meters event, edging out Dutch legend Irene Schouten and Norway's Ragne Wiklund.
Lollobrigida's victory marked a historic moment for Italy, as they secured their first gold medal of the Milano Cortina Games. The Italian speedskater celebrated her first Olympic gold, adding to her impressive collection of medals from previous Olympics. Lollobrigida finished with a time of 3 minutes and 54.28 seconds, setting a new record that was two seconds ahead of runner-up Wiklund.
Canada's Valerie Maltais took the bronze medal in the event, which saw an upset victory for Italy against the dominant Netherlands team. Joy Beune, the reigning world champion in the 3000m, finished off the podium in fourth place, marking the first time since the 2010 Vancouver Games that the Netherlands had not won a medal in this distance.
In a surprising twist, American skater Greta Myers was added to the lineup after Czech skater Martina Sablikova's withdrawal and finished in 20th place. This last-minute addition brought an exciting element to the event, showcasing the depth of talent among international speedskaters.
Lollobrigida's impressive performance on her 35th birthday has sent shockwaves through the speedskating community, solidifying her position as a force to be reckoned with in the sport. As Italy secures their first gold medal of the Milano Cortina Olympics, fans and competitors alike are left in awe of Lollobrigida's incredible talent and determination.
Lollobrigida's victory marked a historic moment for Italy, as they secured their first gold medal of the Milano Cortina Games. The Italian speedskater celebrated her first Olympic gold, adding to her impressive collection of medals from previous Olympics. Lollobrigida finished with a time of 3 minutes and 54.28 seconds, setting a new record that was two seconds ahead of runner-up Wiklund.
Canada's Valerie Maltais took the bronze medal in the event, which saw an upset victory for Italy against the dominant Netherlands team. Joy Beune, the reigning world champion in the 3000m, finished off the podium in fourth place, marking the first time since the 2010 Vancouver Games that the Netherlands had not won a medal in this distance.
In a surprising twist, American skater Greta Myers was added to the lineup after Czech skater Martina Sablikova's withdrawal and finished in 20th place. This last-minute addition brought an exciting element to the event, showcasing the depth of talent among international speedskaters.
Lollobrigida's impressive performance on her 35th birthday has sent shockwaves through the speedskating community, solidifying her position as a force to be reckoned with in the sport. As Italy secures their first gold medal of the Milano Cortina Olympics, fans and competitors alike are left in awe of Lollobrigida's incredible talent and determination.