Olympics, ice: Lollobrigida, the first blue hope

The first, concrete blue chances of a medal in Beijing 2022 will run under its blades. On Saturday, between 9.30 and 11 Italian (between 16.30 and 18 Chinese), the Ice Ribbon – the only indoor facility built specifically for the Games – will host the first of the 14 races of the long track speed skating program: the 3000 women. And Francesca Lollobrigida will be among the favorites.

The Roman comes with the second world time of the season (3’54 “43) and with three podium finishes on the four international races – the three of the World Cup plus the Europeans – with a first and two third places. The exploit arrived on 10 December on the very fast ring of Salt Lake City, theater of the 2002 Olympics, when the standard-bearer of the Air Force once again retouched her Italian leadership. The two third places, however, in the Polish Tomaszow Mazowiecki, on November 12, in the first of the Cup and at the European Championships in Heerenveen, in the Dutch mecca of the discipline, on January 7. Only one rival appears to be almost unbeatable: the 29-year-old orange Irene Schouten, three victories out of three participations in the season, one from which Lollo will also have to be careful on the day of the Mass Start (Saturday 19), her reference specialty, in which at PyeongChang 2018 ended up mocked.

The wait

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Francesca, the only blue in the discipline in the competition, is in full maturity and arrives at the appointment with the third Olympics at the best of her condition: “The training sustained as we approach the season was of quality – says the former multiple world champion on wheels – and the results confirmed it. Compatibly with the load periods, I have grown race after race. Also thanks to the guys on the team, with whom I often train under the orders of coach Maurizio Marchetto: we have all made a big leap in quality. I, then, owe a lot to Matteo, my husband since the beginning of July. With him I found the right balance even away from the ice ». No Italian has won Olympic medals on the long track: Elena Belci was 4th in the 5000 at Lillehammer 1994. The great-granddaughter of the actress Gina, as well as in her two key races, will be at the start of the 1500 (Monday 7) and 5000 (Thursday 10). Monday will be the day of the 31st birthday: easy to guess what you want as a gift.