At the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Italian speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida broke her personal career record by winning the 3,000-meter event, setting a new Olympic record and thrilling the local audience. The victory was particularly noteworthy due to Lollobrigida’s status as an experienced athlete at 35 years of age. Meanwhile, Joy Beune, a 26-year-old Dutch speed skating favorite and reigning world champion at the same distance, was unable to secure a medal, finishing in fourth place. Beune, who has also drawn attention for her appearances on the cover of Playboy magazine, expressed deep disappointment as her anticipated podium finish eluded her. This result ended the Dutch women's marvellous streak of winning gold in speed skating at the past three Olympics.