Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini and Michele Malfatti thrashed the world record-holders, world champions and favourites
T
he noise at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium has been through the roof every time a competitor in Italian blue has appeared on the ice. It was no different on Tuesday with the roar of the crowd powering the host nation to another gold medal.
Davide Ghiotto, Andrea Giovannini and Michele Malfatti thrashed the world record-holders, world champions and favourites Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman and Ethan Cepuran of the US to win the men’s team pursuit gold medal in speed skating. Buoyed by raucous cheering from the home crowd, the Italians won their country’s first Olympic title in this event since the Turin Games in 2006, beating the Americans by a whopping 4.51sec – a lifetime in speed skating. Giovannini even hit the NBA point guard Steph Curry’s trademark ‘night-night’ celebration as he crossed the finish line to signify this truly was a lights-out performance. How many hours, days and weeks had he dreamt of that moment?
The United States started the final well and led in the early stages before falling apart. Simultaneously, the Italians charged ahead over the closing laps, pumping their fists after finishing, responding to their frenzied fans. On the opposite side of the track, the silver medallists leaned over, hands on knees, seemingly in disbelief. This was hyped to be the crowning achievement for the American trio who set a world record in Salt Lake City in November and claimed bronze at Beijing 2022. But if Milano Cortina has showed us anything it is that the Italians can be down, but never out on home soil, snow or ice.
