Article by Adrian Jitea – Published Tuesday, February 10, 2026 9:02 p.m. / Updated Tuesday, February 10, 2026 9:04 p.m.
Ice skater Arianna Fontana (35 years old) wrote another page of history in winter sports. At the 6th edition of the Olympic Games, she won the gold medal with Italy's mixed relay.
Arianna started her Olympic journey in Turin in 2006, when she was only 15 years old. He was then getting a bronze in the 3000 meters race. Meanwhile, the short track skater had won 11 medals, including two golds in the 500 meters at Pyeongchang (2018) and Beijing (2022).
Arianna Fontana, history at Milan-Cortina
Today, Fontana won his third gold medal. She cemented her status as the most decorated short track speed skater in history.
Arianna opened Italy's mixed gold relay, the first short track final of the Milan-Cortina Olympics. He had colleagues on Elisa Confortola, Thomas Nadalini and Pietro Sighel. The race podium was completed by Canada and Belgium.
Italians celebrated in style. Pietro Sighel crossed the finish line skating backwards. He put his hand to his ear and “stirred up” the audience present in the arena.
And Fontana had a unique way of expressing his joy. He picked up the gold medal and a cutout of his own face, then tried to mimic the pose.
“This is our home. We're here to protect it!” was the slogan of the Italian team, revealed in interviews by Fontana, according to Gazetta dello Sport.
Arianna was, until today, the most decorated Italian woman at the Winter Olympics.
Asked what her 15-year-old self would think of this course, she replied: “She wouldn't believe I'm still here. She'd probably ask: 'Why are you still skating?' But she'd be proud!”
Fontana also qualified for the final of the women's 500m event, which she won in 2018 and 2022. Dutch Xandra Velzeboer, the reigning world champion, was the fastest in the qualifiers.
