Ragne Wiklund secured a silver medal in the 3000 meters speed skating event at the Winter Olympics, marking the first Olympic medal for a Norwegian female speed skater in 46 years.
According to VG, Wiklund, 25, expressed great satisfaction and relief after achieving a long-awaited Olympic podium finish. The gold medal was claimed by Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida, who set a new Olympic record with a time of 3:54.28. The silver medal time was 3:56.54, a strong performance by Wiklund amid fierce competition.
This silver medal ends a decades-long gap in Norwegian women’s Olympic speed skating medals, the last being Bjørg Eva Jensen’s gold in the 3000 meters at the 1980 Lake Placid Games. Bjørg Eva Jensen congratulated Wiklund, emphasizing the significance of this achievement. King Harald of Norway praised Wiklund’s performance as well, noting it as a highlight following Heidi Weng’s earlier bronze medal in cross-country skiing at the same Olympics.
Wiklund’s strategy involved an assertive start, maintaining a lead during much of the race, but she ultimately finished behind Lollobrigida by two seconds. Despite that, Wiklund remained pleased with her effort, acknowledging that there was little more she could have done against the exceptional pace set by the Italian skater. Wiklund’s partner, Kristian Gamme Ullekleiv, also commented on the race, noting the challenge of watching while feeling hopeful for gold.
The Italian gold medalist’s performance was described as sensational by sports media, including Gazzetta dello Sport, highlighting her aggressive pacing and well-executed race strategy. Wiklund’s coach, Jonas Bekken, commended her for rising to the challenge and delivering an excellent race under pressure.
Wiklund has demonstrated consistent success throughout the season, having set a new Norwegian record in the 3000 meters just two weeks earlier and earning a European Championship title at the same distance. Before the race, Wiklund stated she would be content with either silver or bronze but aimed to compete strongly. The silver medal confirms her status as one of the leading speed skaters in the sport currently.
