Milan-Cortina 2026, Gutmann fires up Italian team skating event: ‘We are strong’

Milan, 5 February (LaPresse) – “We are a strong team. We are a good team, but I don’t want to have any expectations. I want to enjoy the moment, the atmosphere. I want to feel good on the ice, and then we’ll see.” These were the words of Italian figure skater Lara Naki Gutmann ahead of the start of the team event at the Olympic Games in Milan Cortina, where Italy is aiming to play a leading role. The Italian athlete is fresh from winning bronze in the women’s singles at the European Championships in Sheffield. ‘It was touching, so many emotions all at once. I wasn’t completely satisfied with my programmes, it wasn’t my best performance. My choreographer, Stephane Lambiel, said some very nice words to me and I started crying. I wasn’t even thinking about the performance. I didn’t expect to get such a result (the bronze medal) after that performance,’ she said after her first training session at the Milano Ice Skating Arena. ‘Then I heard a scream and ran outside, my choreographer Stephane arrived with my coach Gabriele Minchio, and Carolina Kostner was there too. What strong emotions,’ she added. In her short programme, Gutmann will perform to music from the Italian Netflix TV series “La Legge di Lidia Poët”, starring Matilda De Angelis (who performed at the opening ceremony, ed.). ‘Definitely (I can relate to her), especially the audacity (of the protagonist), her courage to follow her dreams, to do everything she wants despite the obstacles. It’s a kind of strength that I want to share, as well as a certain femininity that the actress managed to convey. Her character was interesting from the start,’ she concluded.