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Arianna Fontana matches Italy's Olympic medal milestone
Italy's Arianna Fontana secured her 13th Olympic medal in the women's 500m short track speed skating final, tying the national record held by fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti. The 35-year-old finished second behind the Netherlands' Xandra Velzeboer, adding silver to the mixed team relay gold she earned earlier this week.
A legacy of consistency
Fontana's latest medal extends her streak as the only woman to stand on the Olympic podium in six consecutive Winter Games. She has now medaled in every short track distance contested at the Olympics, a testament to her enduring dominance in the sport.
Reflecting on her journey, Fontana told the BBC's More Than The Score podcast, "I had no idea what was happening" when she won her first medal-a bronze in the 3000m relay-at the 2006 Turin Games as a 15-year-old. "I was just living the dream."
From Turin to Milan: A homecoming triumph
Two decades after her Olympic debut in Turin, Fontana carried Italy's flag at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games, a moment she described as surreal. "To be home in Milan, it is my home region," she said. This marked her second time serving as flagbearer, following her role at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
Mental resilience and adaptability
Fontana attributes her longevity to a deep love for the sport and self-awareness. "I never get on the ice just to show up," she said. "With time, I have learned to understand my body and mental fitness." This mindset helped her navigate injuries, including a hip issue in October that forced her to abandon plans to compete in long track events.
Her husband and coach, Anthony Lobello, played a crucial role in her preparation. "We understand each other," Fontana said. "He knows exactly what I need."
Drama and determination in the 500m final
Fontana's path to silver was fraught with challenges. In the semifinal, she maintained focus amid chaos, including a fall by rival Michelle Velzeboer. The final required even more composure: after a collision with Selma Poutsma forced a restart, Fontana's skate needed repairs. She held off late pressure from Poutsma and Canada's Courtney Sarault to secure her 13th medal.
"Sooner or later you are going to retire, and I have spoken to athletes who have. You just feel it, you give it all, then it is time to move on."
Arianna Fontana
Looking ahead
Fontana dismissed suggestions that Milan-Cortina might be her final Games. "For sure, having the Olympic Games in Italy was another motivation," she admitted. "If it was in another country, I don't know. But I didn't have that feeling I was done."
