Speedskater Francesca Lollobrigida has given host nation Italy its first gold medal of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, winning the women’s 3,000 metres in Olympic-record time on Saturday.
Racing in Milan on her 35th birthday, Lollobrigida finished in 3 minutes 54.28 seconds, more than two seconds ahead of Norway’s Ragne Wiklund in second place. Canada’s Valerie Maltais took the bronze.
The home crowd rose to its feet as Lollobrigida completed her final laps, roaring her on as she pulled clear of the field. When her time appeared on the scoreboard as a new Olympic record, she celebrated on the ice with the Italian flag.
Lollobrigida, from the hill town of Frascati just outside Rome, is competing at her fourth Olympics. She won two medals at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games – silver in the 3,000 metres and bronze in the mass start – but had never taken gold until now. She is also the great-niece of the late Gina Lollobrigida, one of Italy’s best-known film stars of the 1950s and 1960s.
The result marks an early highlight for Italy at its home Games and confirms Lollobrigida as one of the leading names in long-distance speed skating, finally adding an Olympic title to a career already rich in major medals.
The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics are being held across Milan, Cortina d’Ampezzo and other venues in northern Italy. The Games bring together athletes from around the world to compete in ice and snow sports including skiing, skating, ice hockey, curling and sliding events, and mark Italy’s return as Winter Games host after Cortina 1956 and Turin 2006.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "g...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held a productive meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, with talks f...
The diplomatic dispute over France's overseas territories is widening, with pro-independence leaders in the Caribbean and the Pacific rejecting claims...
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that there is a good chance” of reaching a deal with Iran, but warned that Washington would resume military operation if negotiations fail.
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior Iranian source told on Sunday.
The Russia-Ukraine war is increasingly reshaping the Caspian region. From threats to energy infrastructure to renewed diplomatic efforts, countries across the region are adapting to the wider consequences of a conflict that continues to disrupt trade, transport and security.
Yemen warned the Houthis were seeking to replicate Iran's Strait of Hormuz strategy in the Red Sea, as U.S. President Donald Trump said there was a "good chance" of a deal with Tehran but warned strikes could resume if talks failed.
A New York school district has put plans to introduce a humanoid robot into classrooms on hold after fierce criticism from teachers, Indigenous community members and state education officials over the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he held a productive meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday, with talks focusing on air defence cooperation and efforts to advance diplomatic negotiations.
The diplomatic dispute over France's overseas territories is widening, with pro-independence leaders in the Caribbean and the Pacific rejecting claims by French lawmakers that Azerbaijan is interfering in France's internal affairs.
U.S. diplomats walked out of a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine after accusing France of making "disingenuous grandstanding" by comparing Washington with North Korea, Russia and other authoritarian states.
Meteorologists in China have used a swarm of drones to observe Typhoon Noul as it passed through Guangdong province, aiming to improve weather monitoring and forecasting during extreme storms.
Tehran has stressed that its commercial vessel hit by a Ukrainian drone in the Caspian Sea on Saturday was carrying only civilian cargo and vowed to respond appropriately while holding Kyiv responsible for the attack.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment