Italian Speed Skater's Curry Celebration Caps Dramatic Olympic Gold Win Over USA
Italian speed skater Andrea Giovannini fulfilled a pre-race promise by breaking out Steph Curry's iconic "night-night" celebration after Italy's men's team pursuit squad secured a stunning Winter Olympics gold medal in a breathtaking final against the United States. The Italian trio, comprising Davide Ghiotto, Giovannini, and Michele Malfatti, delivered a monumental upset by defeating the world champions and world record holders with a commanding performance.
A Commanding Victory and Emotional Triumph
The Italian team stormed home in an impressive time of three minutes 39.20 seconds, finishing a remarkable 4.51 seconds clear of the American squad to claim an unexpected gold medal. This victory not only secured Italy's third gold medal of the Games, alongside a bronze, placing them at the top of the speed skating medal table at Milano Cortina, but also represented a deeply personal triumph for the 32-year-old Giovannini.
The Milano Speed Skating Stadium erupted into a frenzy as the home crowd's roar swelled into a wall of sound during the final laps. Italy executed a remarkable surge from what had appeared to be a fading position with just four laps remaining, igniting wild celebrations among the host nation's supporters.
Inspiration from Steph Curry and Psychological Preparation
Giovannini revealed that his inspiration for the celebration came from watching Steph Curry's performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where the NBA superstar hit a decisive three-pointer against France in the men's basketball final to lead the U.S. to glory. "I watched the final of Paris 2024 where he managed the great pressure and tension of Steph closing it with the three-pointer where he did the night-night gesture," Giovannini explained, referring to Curry's celebration where he presses two hands together to the side of his tilted head.
The Italian skater had anxiously awaited his chance to shine while teammates previously claimed glory during the early weeks of competition. "I did it (celebration) because in these first few weeks I never competed, I saw my teammates getting results, I couldn't wait for my moment to come," Giovannini said. "I had a lot of tension. I thank the psychologist of the team who helped me manage it."
Two or three days before the race, with nerves mounting, he confided in a teammate about his planned celebration. "I told him: 'look, if I can manage it well, I'd like to, if we manage to win, celebrate with the night-night. Precisely because of what this gesture meant in terms of managing tension and then emulating Steph Curry in this,'" Giovannini added.
American Reaction and Historical Context
Even the defeated U.S. skaters managed a smile afterwards when asked about Giovannini's nod to Curry. American skater Emery Lehman commented: "We didn't see that. It's better than getting two middle fingers from the Russians four years ago."
His remark referred to the Beijing 2022 semi-finals, when Russian skater Daniil Aldoshkin, then only 20 years old, raised both middle fingers toward the crowd after his team beat the U.S. to advance. Aldoshkin later apologised for that controversial gesture, making Giovannini's Curry tribute appear particularly sportsmanlike by comparison.
The Italian victory represents one of the most dramatic moments of the Winter Olympics, combining athletic excellence with psychological resilience and a touch of basketball-inspired showmanship that captivated audiences worldwide.
