Italy is Olympic champion in the men’s team pursuit. On the ice of the Milan Speed Skating Stadium, Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini and Michele Malfatti won a huge gold medal curve after curve.
Against the United States, already beaten in the quarterfinals, the Azzurri replicated their success: controlled start, clean changes, surgical progression in the second half of the match, managing to recover and overtake the USA team. After the first laps with a slight delay, Italy turned on the engine in the final stages, digging a gap that the Americans were no longer able to fill, finishing over 4 and a half seconds ahead.
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A growing journey
The Italian journey began with a strong signal: best time in the quarterfinals and victory against the American trio. A tactical race, finished in 3’38″40, which had certified the solidity of the group. In the semi-final, then, the maturity test against the Netherlands, historical masters of the discipline. There too, initial balance and devastating acceleration in the final: 3’38″88 and almost two seconds given to the Dutch school. A clear message to the entire scoreboard.
However, this gold is not an isolated episode. It is the highest point of a journey that began in the World Cup and consolidated with the European title. At Milan-Cortina 2026, Italy did not surprise, but confirmed what was seen in the season and the Olympic ice today speaks blue 20 years after the Turin 2006 Olympics when the heroes were Enrico Fabris, Ippolito Sanfratello, Matteo Anesi and Stefano Donagrandi. And for Italy it is the 24th medal in this Olympics, the ninth gold: a real feat for the Azzurri.
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