Italy's first medals on the first official day of the Milan-Cortina Games.
Gold and records in skating
Francesca Lollobrigida delivers a sensational first gold : the Italian speed skater won the 3000-meter title in 3:54.28, which is also an Olympic record , ahead of Norway's Ragne Wiklund, who took silver in 3:56.54, and Canada's Valerie Maltais, who took bronze in 3:56.93. The Olympic champion, wrapped in the Italian flag, burst into tears, holding her son Tommaso, born in May 2023, in her arms. "You can be a mother and also be stronger," the new Olympic champion exulted on her 35th birthday.
Downhill skiing in Bormio
In the downhill in Bormio , the Italians scored a double, with Giovanni Franzoni taking silver and Dominik Paris taking bronze. Swiss Franjo von Allmen took victory, while one of the pre-race favorites, Swiss champion Marc Odermatt, missed out on the podium. "This medal takes the pressure off me," commented Franzoni: "Winning a medal on home soil is magnificent. I dedicate it to my family, my team, my fans. You never win alone. I dreamed of a medal here, and it came immediately ." An Olympic bronze that "closes the circle" for Dominik Paris . "I managed to achieve everything," added 'Domme' at the press conference, "the only thing missing was the Olympic medal. It means so much to me and my fans. They told me I deserved it, and in the end, it came ."
The Six Nations
The Italian national rugby team made their debut in the 2026 Six Nations tournament with a victory. Gonzalo Quesada's Azzurri beat Scotland 18-15 (15-7) at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, scoring two tries, with Lynagh and Menoncello in the first half, against one for the Scots.
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(Unioneonline)
