Dten cents. The space of a breath, a blink of an eye that separates glory from regret. Francesca Lollobrigida stopped time a 6:46.17just enough to break the Dutchman’s resistance Merel Conijn (6:46.27) and take, among the screams of the pavilions of Rho Fiera, his second Olympic gold in Milan Cortina 2026. After the triumph in the 3000 meters, the thirty-five-year-old Italian sign the double in the longest distancethat “marathon” where the ice doesn’t forgive.
Francesca Lollobrigida, the second gold is the story of an apnea
Francesca’s race was a demonstration of tactical courage. She went on the attack, hammering out rhythms from 32 and a half seconds per lap and accumulating a lead of almost two seconds. But the 5000 meters are a beast that bites your legs right at the end. In the last thousand metres, tiredness made itself felt, heavy as lead: the lead evaporated, reducing tenth by tenth while Conijn, silver, attempted to virtually overtake.
Francesca Lollobrigida after winning gold in the 5000 meters in speed skating (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
That’s where the champion came out. With gritted teeth, supported by an audience that literally pushed her in the last lap and a half, Francesca Lollobrigida protected what little bit of energy she had left. He won with the personality of someone who knows how to sufferlining up the Netherlands and Norway Ragne Wiklund (bronze), while the Belgian Sandrine Tas remained at the foot of the podium by just three tenths.
The history of speed skating
With this medal, Italy flies up the medal table: it is the sixth gold of the expedition, the fourth in less than 24 hours. For Italian speed skating it is a watershed moment. Francesca Lollobrigida becomes the most medaled athlete in the history of the Italian team in this discipline (2 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze), equaling and surpassing the myth of Enrico Fabris in the prestige of his titles. If the first two gold medals in history were won by Fabris in Turin 2006, twenty years later it is a woman who takes the absolute scepter.
The strength of a “Golden Mother”
Behind Francesca’s determination there is also a cultural revolution. There Federation guaranteed her a tailor-made project — standard time for all — which allowed her to not having to choose between the podium and little Tommaso. Logistical support, his sister Giulia at his side at rallies and real protection of his sporting ambition.
«I gave birth on Friday and the following Monday I was already on the track training», said Francesca Lollobrigida with that determination that today led her to sing the Mameli anthem with her hand on her heart. A victory that smells of home, of rights won and of a talent that, at 35, knows no boundaries.
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