Arianna Fontana, the record-setting athlete is close to another historic milestone

Arianna Fontana continues to rewrite Italian sports history. In Milan Cortina 2026, the short track champion won the twelfth Olympic medal of her career, contributing to Italy&#8217s gold medal in the mixed short track relay: an achievement that confirms her as the most decorated Italian athlete ever at the Winter Games and the most successful short tracker in history at the age of 35, exactly twenty years after her first podium at Five Circles won at another home event, the 2006 event in Turin.

Fontana once again demonstrated uncommon longevity and competitiveness, celebrating a milestone that brings her even closer to Edoardo Mangiarotti&#8217s all-time record (13 Olympic medals in fencing between 1936 and 1960). In the six consecutive editions of the Games (Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, Pyeongchang 2018, Beijing 2022, and Milan Cortina 2026), the Italian skater has always medaled: before her, only Armin Zöggeler, world luge legend, had succeeded, standing on the podium from Lillehammer 1994 to Sochi 2014.

Arianna Fontana’s palmarès includes three Olympic gold medals (in addition to today’s, also individual golds in the 500 meters in Pyeongchang and Beijing), four silver medals (500 meters in 2014, 3000 meters relay in 2018, 1500 meters and 2000 meters relay in 2022) and five bronze medals (3000 meters relay in 2006, 500 meters in 2010, 1500 meters and 3000 meters relay in 2014, 1000 meters in 2018). A true mosaic of successes, which no’other Italian female athlete had ever achieved before her.

Francesco Lucivero

The 12th medal, which came thanks to a flawless performance in the mixed relay, is also an important sign ahead of the individual competitions that await Fontana in the coming days. The Valtellinese showed brilliant condition and the upcoming trials in the 500, 1000 and 1500 meters represent an opportunity to further expand an already extraordinary haul and chase another piece of history.

Arianna Fontana is the’only athlete in atttività among the ten most medaled Italians ever at the Olympic Games, summer and winter. Behind her is in fact swimmer Gregorio Paltrinieri, who with five total medals (one gold, two silvers and as many bronzes) ranks 15th in the overall standings.