Arianna Fontana is extending her legacy as one of Italy’s greatest-ever athletes with her incredible performance-Arianna Fontana has officially become Italy’s most decorated Olympian of all time, securing her 11th career medal while expressing her excitement about her achievement. The short-track skating legend has 14 Olympic medals, making her the most decorated Olympian in Italy’s history across both Winter and Summer Games.
The 35-year-old has been an exemplar of short-track skating excellence at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. She secured her third medal at these games after achieving success in the mixed team relay and the women’s 500m.
Arianna shared her mesmerizing experience saying: “Honestly, I’m lost for words. I am sitting in the changing room, and I had a moment where it all hit me, thinking over everything. I truly don’ t has the words.”
She explained: “When I look at Anthony, I am speechless, I just had a moment where I was really, completely overwhelmed by everything and now I truly don’t have the words. The 35-year-old – the only woman to have finished on the podium in six consecutive Winter Games – now has 14 medals, surpassing the tally of fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti to stand alone as her country’s all-time record holder at an Olympics.
Fontana said she had extra motivation after feeling she was impeded in the 1000m final.
“I’ll try to turn this anger into extra fuel to add to the fire,” she said.
But when reigning champions Netherlands crashed out of the race, it was down to Fontana and co to keep their cool.
After a neck and neck race with Korea, in which the Italians briefly took the lead but were overtaken on the penultimate lap, the hosts took silver and Fontana got her medal.
And if she carries on for one more Games, to French Alps 2030, she could equal Norwegian cross country skier Marit Bjoergen’s all-time Winter Olympics record of 15 medals.
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