Three More Medals at These Games Alone
Becoming Italy’s All-Time Leading Medalist in Milan
The 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics are underway at the Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy. Out on that ice, history has been written once again. At the center of it is Arianna Fontana, the face of Italian short track speed skating.
On the 19th, Yonhap News Agency reported that while the Republic of Korea won the gold medal in the women’s 3000m relay final, Fontana teamed up with Elisa Confortola, Chiara Betti, and Arianna Sighel to take the silver medal.
At the Milan Ice Skating Arena on the 12th (local time), Arianna Fontana of Italy, who won the silver medal in the women's 500m final in short track at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, is posing with her medal around her neck. Yonhap News Agency
The bronze medal went to Canada. Skating as Italy’s anchor on the day, Fontana was overtaken by Korea’s Kim Gil-li and finished a disappointing second, but her trademark veteran composure and poise remained intact. Previously, Fontana had made her name on the international stage by winning the bronze medal in the 3000m relay at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics. She was a 15-year-old rookie at the time. Since then, through Vancouver, Sochi, Pyeongchang, and Beijing to this Milan Games, she has collected a total of 14 medals across five Olympic Games. This is the all-time record for the most medals in Winter Olympic short track history. In particular, at the 2026 Games she added a gold medal in the mixed 2000m relay and a silver medal in the women’s 500m, and then another silver in the 3000m relay, once again asserting her presence in front of the home crowd. Fontana, who skated in her first Olympics 20 years ago, has now become a symbol of Italian sport.
On the 12th (local time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy, Arianna Fontana (Italy), who won the silver medal in the women's 500m short-track final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, is greeting. Yonhap News
However, not every race was perfect. In the women’s 1000m event, Fontana attempted an inside pass and collided with Gong Li of China. Losing her balance and speed, she ultimately failed to reach the podium. Right after the race, she candidly admitted, "I was controlling the race well. The contact happened just as I was trying to pick up speed. I am angry." But she soon added, "I will use this anger as fuel and pour it into the relay." Her words quickly became reality. Fontana lit up the track again in the relay and, in the end, secured a hard-earned silver medal.
Fontana’s name stands alongside the legends of short track. First, Wang Meng of China dominated an era by winning a total of six Olympic medals, including four golds. Korea’s star Choi Minjeong has likewise competed as one of the world’s very best, winning multiple Olympic medals, including four golds. In particular, Choi Minjeong’s explosive late-race passing ability is regarded as the best in the world.
Compared with these skaters, Fontana’s greatest strength is her consistency. Rather than a single explosive performance at one Games, she has built her record over 20 years. Even as generations changed and rules were revised, she was always somewhere near the podium. Above all, this Milan Olympics holds special meaning for Fontana. It is the first Olympics held in Italy in 20 years since Turin 2006. Although she was overtaken on the final lap, the standing ovation that erupted from the stands after the race was praise on par with a gold medal.
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