Arianna Fontana: A Legend on Ice
Milano Cortina witnessed history as Italy struck gold in the mixed team relay, and Arianna Fontana cemented her place in the annals of Olympic glory! The 35-year-old from Valtellina, alongside Pietro Sighel, Thomas Nadalini, and Elisa Confortola (with Luca Spechanhauser and Chiara Betti contributing in the first and second heats), secured her twelfth Olympic medal, inching closer to the Italian record held by fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti.
The Italian team, already silver medalists at Beijing 2022, showcased their dominance, eliminating favorites Netherlands and South Korea in a dramatic semifinal. Their performance was a testament to their consistency, having already made a mark in the quarterfinals.
A Masterclass in Strategy and Speed
After a steady fourth leg, the Italians began to assert their control. Sighel and Betti executed a brilliant changeover, creating a gap that their rivals struggled to close. A slight contact between the Netherlands and China further hampered their pursuit. From that point on, Italy simply had to maintain their lead, which they did with remarkable composure. They crossed the finish line in a comfortable 2:37.482, nearly a second ahead of the defending champions, China.
Fontana’s Decisive Move
The women’s leg saw Confortola and Fontana take the lead, each completing two laps (totaling 18 laps, 2000 meters). Fontana strategically positioned herself in second place, allowing the Chinese team to set the pace. Midway through the race, Fontana unleashed her experience and speed, overtaking the Chinese skater on the inside. She then pushed the pace, creating a decisive break. Confortola and Nadalini continued to build on the lead, making it nearly insurmountable.
A Triumphant Finish
Sighel’s final leg was a display of pure dominance, crossing the finish line with a celebratory gesture. The Italian team finished in 2:39.019, with Canada taking silver (2:39.258) and Belgium claiming bronze (2:39.353). China settled for fourth place.
Celebration and Future Goals
The Forum erupted in celebration as the six Italian skaters, draped in the tricolor flag, basked in the cheers of the Milanese crowd. Fontana was the center of attention, while Sighel and Confortola, a couple both on and off the ice, shared a heartfelt embrace. Martina Valcepina, who was unfortunately sidelined due to injury, also joined in the celebration, carried by her teammate Spechenhauser.
“This is a magical medal, I’m happy and proud of my career. This victory undoubtedly gives me a great boost for the races to come. It’s my twelfth Olympic medal, I know… Mangiarotti’s record? I don’t think about it, I live day by day, race by race, we’ll see what happens. I’m certainly focused on the next races. It’s not possible to rank the medals won, each four-year period has a different path. Of course, 20 years ago, on the day of the opening ceremony of Turin 2006, I would never have expected to be here today. I had this reflection this morning as I was coming here, I thought ‘wow, you’ve had a long career, you’ve won everything you wanted to win, you’ve achieved all the goals you wanted to achieve’… I told myself go and have fun!” Fontana exclaimed.
Qualifying Rounds: Setting the Stage for Success
The day began with strong performances in the qualifying rounds. Pietro Sighel (1:25.740), Luca Spechenhauser (1:25.422), and Thomas Nadalini (1:26.882) all advanced to the quarterfinals of the 1000m. In the women’s 500m, Chiara Betti (43.163) and Arianna Fontana (42.668) also secured their spots in the next round. Unfortunately, Arianna Sighel was involved in a collision and was eliminated.
The Milano Cortina Olympic Games are broadcast live on Rai channels, RaiPlay, Eurosport, Discovery+, HBO Max, DAZN, TimVision, and Amazon Prime Video Channels, offering comprehensive coverage of the event. Rai’s official website provides schedules and updates.
