Italy's Arianna Fontana Makes History with 12th Olympic Medal in Short Track Mixed Relay Triumph

Italy's Arianna Fontana cemented her legacy as the greatest short track speed skater in Olympic history on Tuesday, winning her 12th career Olympic medal as the host nation captured gold in the mixed team relay at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. The Italian quartet of Elisa Confortola, Fontana, Pietro Sighel and Thomas Nadalini clocked a winning time of 2 minutes, 39.019 seconds, delighting the home crowd at the Palavela Arena and giving Italy another memorable golden moment at these Games.

Canada finished runner-up in 2:39.258, just 0.239 seconds behind the victorious Italians, while Belgium took bronze in 2:39.353. Reigning Olympic champion China placed fourth in a stunning upset, unable to match the speed and tactical execution of the medal-winning teams. The race featured multiple lead changes and aggressive passing maneuvers, with Italy's experience and home-ice advantage proving decisive in the final laps.

At 35 years old, Fontana adds a third Olympic gold medal to her collection, having previously won individual gold in the 500m at Turin 2006 and PyeongChang 2018. Her 12 total Olympic medals—three gold, four silver, and five bronze—extend her lead as the most decorated short track Olympian and Italian Winter Olympian in history. The achievement is even more remarkable considering she is now the oldest woman to climb an Olympic short track podium and only the second athlete in the sport to earn a medal across six different Olympic Games.

Fontana's Olympic journey began at her home Turin 2006 Games when she won gold as a teenager, and she has remarkably maintained elite-level performance across two decades of competition. Her longevity reflects exceptional physical conditioning, technical mastery, and mental resilience in one of the most physically demanding and unpredictable Olympic sports. Short track speed skating features high-speed racing on a tight oval with frequent crashes and disqualifications, making sustained excellence across multiple Olympic cycles extraordinarily difficult.

The mixed team relay format, which made its Olympic debut at Beijing 2022, requires teams of two men and two women to complete 18 laps with strategic exchanges. Italy's team demonstrated superb coordination and timing, with each skater executing clean exchanges while maintaining maximum speed. Fontana's experience proved invaluable in the high-pressure environment, as she guided her younger teammates through tactical situations and kept them focused during critical moments of the race.

The gold medal represents Italy's continued excellence in short track speed skating at these home Olympics, where the Azzurri have exceeded expectations across multiple events. Fontana's historic achievement has inspired a new generation of Italian speed skaters and reinforced the nation's growing reputation in winter sports beyond traditional strengths like alpine skiing. As she potentially approaches the end of her competitive career, Fontana's legacy as one of the greatest Olympic athletes in any sport appears secure, with her medal record likely to stand for generations.