Italian speed skating star Francesca Lollobrigida, a double Olympic champion at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, has announced her retirement, bringing to a close a career that took her from inline skating to the very top of the sport.

From Rome to the international stage

Born in Rome, Lollobrigida began her sporting career on wheels, quickly rising to prominence in inline skating and winning world titles before making a pivotal switch to long track speed skating in 2012.

At the time, her transition marked her as an outlier in the sport, a path rarely taken at the highest level.

A Mass Start specialist

Lollobrigida initially built her reputation in the Mass Start, using her pack-racing instincts developed in inline skating.

She won the ISU Mass Start World Cup titles in 2014, 2018 and 2022, and claimed the European title in 2018, establishing herself among the discipline’s leading athletes.

Expanding beyond her specialty

Over the years, she evolved into a more complete long-distance skater, adding the 3000m and 5000m to her repertoire.

Lollobrigida's development across distances reflected both her adaptability and her growing endurance, allowing her to compete consistently at the highest level.

Francesca Lollobrigida competes in the Women's 1500m race at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Tomaszow Mazoiecki, Poland in 2018 © Getty Images

A comeback chapter

Following the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, Lollobrigida stepped away from competition to welcome her son, Tomasso.

Lollobrigida's return marked a new phase in her career. In 2025, she secured her first World Single Distance title, winning the 5000m at the World Championships in Hamar.

Francesca Lollobrigida poses with her son Tommaso after winning a gold medal in the speed skating women's 3000m at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy. © Getty Images

A full-circle moment in Milano

At the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, Lollobrigida brought her career to its defining moment.

Competing on home ice, she claimed gold in both the 3000m and 5000m, completing a remarkable journey from inline skating to Olympic champion.

Francesca Lollobrigida celebrates with her gold medal on the podium after competing in the speed skating women's 3000m at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy. © Getty Images

A legacy of reinvention

Lollobrigida’s career will be remembered not only for her results, but for the path she forged.

From an unconventional start to sustained success across multiple disciplines, her story reflects one of the most versatile and resilient careers in international speed skating.

Francesca Lollobrigida - Career Highlights