European short track championships, 11 medals for Italy including 4 gold

European short track, 11 medals for Italy including 4 gold

Italy short track closes the European short track championships in Dresden with a more than positive balance: because after the show of Arianna Fontana and the women relay finished on the highest step of the podium, on the final day Pietro Sighel dragged the Azzurri, winning the gold on the 1000 meters and with the relay.

The 25-year-old from Trentino è confirmed himself as continental champion over the distance, overcoming the Dutch Jens Van't Wout in a photo finish: the fifth individual European title of his career. Also joining him on the podium was Luca Spechenhauser, bronze. And Mameli's anthem è resounded again with the men’s relay.

The quartet composed of Thomas Nadalini, Lorenzo Previtali, Sighel and Spechenhauser returned the tricolor movement to the top step of the podium for the first time since 2010. Among women, in the 1,500 meters, Gloria Ioriatti and Elisa Confortola took silver and bronze, respectively, behind the Dutch Xandra Velzeboer.

On the 500 meters, silver and bronze for Arianna Sighel and Chiara Betti: unlucky final for Fontana, who was disqualified due to contact with Dutch Michelle Velzeboer. Disqualification also in the mixed relay, with the Azzurri crossed the finish line first, but penalized again for a contact during the race and finished at the foot of the podium. Italy still finished with 4 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze medals.