MILAN – While American Jordan Stolz arrived at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics as speed skating’s marquee star, it was Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida who stole the spotlight and ignited passionate celebrations at the home venue.
Lollobrigida, the great-niece of legendary actress Gina Lollobrigida, launched Italy’s medal campaign with a stunning triumph in the women’s 3,000-meter race on her 35th birthday, securing the host country’s opening gold medal of the Games.
A week later, she captured another victory in the 5,000-meter event, making her achievement even more remarkable considering her quick return to elite competition following the birth of her son Tommaso in May 2023.
The Italian success story continued with their men’s team pursuit squad, who shocked the heavily-favored American team in one of the competition’s most surprising outcomes.
Andrea Giovannini’s viral “night-night” celebration – inspired by basketball star Stephen Curry – perfectly embodied the jubilant atmosphere surrounding the Italian team.
However, the competition also delivered crushing disappointment. Joep Wennemars, who held the 2025 world championship title in the 1,000 meters, watched his medal dreams disappear following a crash with China’s Lian Ziwen.
China found their moment of glory when Ning Zhongyan, previously known for close calls, finally broke through with a masterful performance to defeat both Stolz and two-time defending champion Kjeld Nuis in the men’s 1,500-meter final.
The Netherlands showcased their traditional dominance throughout the competition. Jutta Leerdam secured their opening victory in the women’s 1,000 meters, followed by Femke Kok’s triumph in the 500 meters and Antoinette Rijpma-de Jong’s gold in the 1,500 meters.
The Dutch concluded their campaign in style on the final day, with 40-year-old Jorrit Bergsma and Marijke Groenewoud claiming both mass start events, demonstrating their nation’s remarkable depth across all distances.
Despite facing unexpected challenges, Stolz delivered an impressive individual performance, capturing gold medals in both the men’s 500 and 1,000 meters while earning silver in the 1,500 meters.
Other notable performances included Norway’s Sander Eitrem, who justified his world record credentials by winning the men’s 5,000 meters, and Czech teenager Matej Jilek, who enhanced his rising reputation with a victory in the 10,000 meters.
Canada provided another memorable moment by successfully retaining their women’s team pursuit championship.
These thrilling competitions took place on an innovative temporary track built inside a Milan exhibition center – an exceptionally fast surface that produced seven Olympic records before being taken down.
