Great-Grandniece Wins Gold Medal, Honors Gina Lollobrigida’s Legacy

Francesca Lollobrigida brought Italy’s first gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics, winning the 3,000 meter speed skating event on Saturday in Milan, on her 35th birthday. Francesca Lollobrigida beat Norwegian Ragne Wiklund and Canadian Valérie Maltais, establishing a new Olympic record in 3 min 54 sec 28.

Already a double Olympic medalist in Beijing in 2022 (silver over 3000 m, bronze in the mass start), and crowned at the Worlds in Hamar (Norway) over 5000 m in 2025, the great-grandniece of the actress Gina Lollobrigida rushed into the bowels of the Milan ice rink to celebrate her success with her son Tommaso.

It’s the happiest day of my life.

Francesca Lollobrigida

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The Italian then posed for the photographers with her little boy and her gold medal. “It’s the happiest day of my life, a perfect day. First of all because my son, my husband and my family were there to watch me”declared the Italian. “It’s incredible, because we’re in Italy. The Olympic Games are held in Italy. It’s the dream of my dreams.”

“The message I wanted to send is that I didn’t have to choose between skating and my role as a mother. I stopped after my silver medal in Beijing (2022), I was on top of the world. I’m really proud of myself for coming back.” after giving birth to her son.

“Tears of joy” for Violette Braun

On the French side, the young Violette Braun, 19, ranked 16th. The Alsatian finished with a time of 4 min 07 sec 17, almost 13 seconds behind the Olympic champion. “Joy, a lot of joy, a feeling of accomplishment and relief”she said to describe her feeling after the race.

Coming from roller skating, Braun qualified for the Olympics in her second season in speed skating and above all represents a great hope for the 2030 Olympics. “I am really satisfied with this performance, my coach too. We’re going to work on what needs to be worked on, and we know what needs to be worked on to come back stronger later.”she said.