Francesca Lollobrigida hugs her son after winning Italy’s first gold of the Milan Olympics

Key Highlights

• “Not just for being an Olympic champion, but because of the full journey we’ve lived together.”Plus, she explained: “This was to show the people that you can be a mom and come back to be much stronger.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementLater, she described the months of dealing with an illness, which she thought might have been picked up by Tommaso at kindergarten, as giving her a “black mind” and contributing to her “crying after every race.”“In the beginning of the season, I really wanted to give up,” Lollobrigida said.
• “But then the people who really believed in me said, ‘No, you really need to fight.’”She collected two medals at Beijing four years ago: a silver in the 3,000 and a bronze in the mass start.
• Those were celebrated with a tattoo on her right arm, and a ring and necklace with Olympic symbols. This time, she said afterward, she would have been satisfied with another bronze. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn Saturday, as one might expect, she was greeted by a big cheer during the introductions before her heat, and Lollobrigida responded with a big smile and a big wave with both arms overhead, before covering her chest with her hands.“Finally, the fans were on our side,” Italian coach Maurizio Marchetto said with a smile.
• “Usually, they’re supporting the Dutch,” a country in which speedskating is a passion. Racing with Maltais, Lollobrigida trailed at the first checkpoint.
• But the Italian kept gaining ground and, perhaps boosted by the loud support from her countrymen in the seats, surged on the final lap, arms swinging behind her.“It was a competition at home (for her),” Maltais said, “and I was expecting her to do something strong.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHow fast was Lollobrigida?