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MILAN — Italian long-track speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida took it all in with fans, green, white and red flags wrapped around her back and her 2-year-old son Tommaso on her hip.

“I think today is the perfect day,” said Lollobrigida, who celebrated her 35th birthday by winning the host nation’s first gold medal in the thrilling women’s 3,000-meter race on Saturday. “I can’t believe it, it’s like a dream.”

On a night left off from the official start of the Olympics, Lollobrigida made headlines on the first day, setting an Olympic record of 3:54.28, more than two seconds ahead of silver medalist Ragne Wiklund of Norway (3:56.54), winning her first career gold medal. Canada’s Valerie Martais won the bronze medal (3:56.93).

“It’s not that easy to balance being a skater and being a mom,” said Lollobrigida, who estimates she is away from home about 250 days a year. “This (medal) is for myself, for the people who believed in me, and for the people who said, ‘Maybe she can’t do it.'” They gave me the strength to prove myself. ”

Lollobrigida skated in the third-to-last pair, but the largely Italian crowd stood up to cheer the local star as she continued to lead the way to the finish at an Olympic record pace. After she wins and seals her record, the scene where she runs through the tunnel to catch Tommaso immediately went viral. The flag was still draped over her shoulder. Not Superman. Super mom.

The drama was just beginning on the ice when Lollobrigida hugged her husband and coach.

Lollobrigida and the home crowd watched nervously as four more skaters, including two from the Netherlands, a traditional long-track speed skating powerhouse, tried to knock her off the top spot. Next up was Wiklund and five-time world champion Marieke Frouneud of the Netherlands, both of whom had won medals by the time they overtook Lollobrigida.

The final pair was Canada’s Isabel Weidemann and Dutch great Joy Beune, a five-time world champion. They also fell one step short. The gold medal went to Lollobrigida, who watched intently as she walked around the warm-up area and called out to her family. Television cameras showed Tommaso appearing to imitate a speed skater’s form just before the final pair began.

Beune, who finished fourth, finished short of Lollobrigida’s time, causing an uproar among the Italians, who also took home the first gold medal handed out in Milan.

“The message I want to show is that I didn’t choose between being a family and being a mother (and being a speed skater),” Lollobrigida said. “I quit[competing]right after I won the medals (silver and bronze) in Beijing. I was really on top of the world, right? I was brave and I’m really proud of myself.”

Lollobrigida was also quick to point out that she can’t accomplish anything on her own. She said Saturday’s gold medal was a result of teamwork and thanked her husband for always believing in her and telling her what she wanted to hear, even when it wasn’t easy. As for Tommaso, his mother said she hopes someday he can watch Saturday’s race and understand what she accomplished.

That’s not the only impressive thing Lollobrigida has accomplished. Tommaso was born in May 2023, and Lollobrigida returned to competition at just six months old. She won a bronze medal in the mass start event at the European Championships in January 2024. Tommaso was also in the crowd at the match.

Lollobrigida is also the reigning world champion in the 5,000 meters and will also compete in that event later in these meets. It will be his fourth Olympics, and at an age once considered “too old” to compete, Lollobrigida is even better and ready to celebrate once again with Tommaso and the Italian flag.

Lollobrigida said her training was far from perfect and she was in poor shape leading up to the competition, but the results were definitely perfect. She plans to celebrate on Saturday and then get back on the ice to prepare for her next race.