Italian skater Francesca Lollobrigida won the gold medal in the women’s 3000 meters speed skating event, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 3:54.28.
NOS, a Dutch news outlet, reports on the unexpected outcome of the race.
Lollobrigida secured the fastest time during the eighth heat of the competition, impressing with an Olympic record performance. Despite strong efforts from the Dutch skaters, none were able to beat her time. Joy Beune finished just outside the medals in fourth place, while Marijke Groenewoud placed eighth and Merel Conijn came in ninth. Isabelle Weideman also competed but did not manage to surpass the leading time.
This victory marks Lollobrigida’s third Olympic medal, following her silver in the 3000 meters and bronze in the mass start at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Prior to the event in Milan, Lollobrigida was not considered one of the top favorites; the Dutch skaters Beune, Groenewoud, Conijn, and Weidemann were widely seen as the main contenders for the gold medal.
