In a thrilling display of sportsmanship and celebration, Italy's speedskating team borrowed a famous gesture from NBA superstar Steph Curry to mark their victory over the United States in the team pursuit event on Tuesday. The Italians secured the gold medal on their home ice in Milan, defeating the Americans by a decisive margin of four and a half seconds.
Curry's Iconic Taunt Makes Its Way to the Ice
Steph Curry popularized the "night-night" lullaby taunt during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where he used it to great effect after sinking three-pointers against France in the gold medal basketball game. The gesture involves placing one's cheek on their hands as if falling asleep, symbolizing the end of the competition.
Italian Skater Recreates the Moment
Italian team pursuit member Andrea Giovannini replicated Curry's iconic move immediately after the race, reveling in the home ice triumph. The celebration quickly gained attention on social media, with NBC Sports sharing the moment and noting its familiarity to basketball fans worldwide.
The American team had entered the competition with high expectations, having set the world pursuit record in November and hoping to upgrade their bronze medal from the 2022 Beijing Olympics to gold. However, the Italian trio of Davide Ghiotto, Michele Malfatti, and Andrea Giovannini proved too strong, delivering a commanding performance that left their opponents in their wake.
A Historic Gold for Italy
This victory marks Italy's first gold medal in the speedskating team pursuit since they last hosted the Winter Games in 2006. The emotional win on home soil was made even more memorable by the creative celebration that paid homage to one of basketball's biggest stars.
The "night-night" gesture has become a cultural phenomenon in sports, transcending basketball and finding its way into other athletic celebrations. Italy's adoption of the taunt demonstrates how moments from different sports can intersect and create memorable cross-disciplinary connections.
As the Italian skaters celebrated their hard-fought victory, the gesture served as a perfect capstone to their performance—effectively putting the competition to bed and announcing their arrival as champions on the world stage.
