Italian Francesca Lollobrigida smashes Olympic record, takes 3000m gold

Lollobrigida's record-breaking performance secures Italy's first Olympic speed skating gold medal.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Italian speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida won the gold medal in the women's 3000m event at the 2026 Olympics in Milan, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 3:54.280 minutes. This is Italy's first-ever Olympic gold medal in speed skating.

Why it matters

Lollobrigida's historic victory marks a major milestone for Italy in the sport of speed skating, a discipline the country has traditionally struggled in at the Olympics. Her record-breaking performance has ignited national pride and excitement ahead of the remainder of the Winter Games.

The details

Francesca Lollobrigida, a 28-year-old Italian speed skater, dominated the women's 3000m event at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan. She crossed the finish line in a time of 3:54.280, shattering the previous Olympic record and securing Italy's first-ever gold medal in speed skating.

  • The women's 3000m speed skating event took place on February 8, 2026 to open the Olympic speed skating competition.

The players

Francesca Lollobrigida

A 28-year-old Italian speed skater who won the gold medal in the women's 3000m event at the 2026 Olympics in Milan, setting a new Olympic record.

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What they’re saying

“I'm overjoyed to have won Italy's first Olympic gold medal in speed skating. This is a dream come true and a testament to all the hard work I've put in over the years.”

— Francesca Lollobrigida (ksby.com)

What’s next

Lollobrigida will look to build on her success in the 3000m by competing in additional speed skating events later in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The takeaway

Francesca Lollobrigida's historic gold medal performance has elevated Italy's status in the speed skating world and inspired a new generation of Italian athletes to pursue the sport at the highest levels.