Buonfiglio meets the Italy rugby team ahead of the Six Nations clash with England: “Increasingly among the protagonists”

• AT THE ‘GIULIO ONESTI’ CPO

The President of Italian National Olympic Committee, Luciano Buonfiglio, met today – at the Giulio Onesti Olympic Preparation Centre (CPO) in Acqua Acetosa – the Italian men’s national rugby team. The Azzurri are preparing for the Guinness Six Nations Championship clash against England national rugby union team, scheduled for Saturday at 17:40 at Stadio Olimpico.

Buonfiglio offered his encouragement to the squad and to head coach Gonzalo Quesada, congratulating them for the performances delivered in the opening matches, which have confirmed the growing competitiveness of the group and its increasingly prominent role in the prestigious competition.

The foundations are now in place for another unforgettable day, as the President hoped at the end of his brief address, which was greeted by the applause of the national team.

Lisa Vittozzi’s racing suit and Federico Pellegrino’s poles enter the Olympic Museum in Lausanne

• ITALIA TEAM

The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, is set to be enriched by two further Italian artefacts. The racing suit of Lisa Vittozzi (biathlon) and the poles of Federico Pellegrino (cross-country skiing) will become part of the permanent collection of the most prestigious complex in the world dedicated to the Olympic Games and the beating heart of international sporting memory.

The two donations arrived at the conclusion of Milano Cortina 2026, a record-breaking Olympic Games for the entire Italia Team. Lisa Vittozzi (photo FISI) triumphed in the pursuit, claiming the first Olympic gold medal in history for Italian biathlon, in addition to securing silver in the mixed relay alongside Tommaso Giacomel, Lukas Hofer and Dorothea Wierer. The 31-year-old from Sappada was also one of the two flag bearers at the Closing Ceremony at the Arena di Verona together with speed skater Davide Ghiotto, who won gold in the team pursuit with team-mates Andrea Giovannini and Michelle Malfatti.

Federico Pellegrino, Italy’s standard-bearer at the Opening Ceremony at San Siro Stadium alongside short track skater Arianna Fontana, lived up to expectations in what marked the fourth and final Olympic Games of a legendary career. The champion from Nus took his leave of the Olympic stage with two bronze medals: one in the men’s relay with Davide Graz, Martino Carollo and Elia Barp, and the other in the team sprint in free technique paired with Barp. The suit and the poles (both signed by the athletes) were presented to the staff of the Olympic Museum, who will transport them to Switzerland to enrich the IOC’s historical and cultural heritage within the exhibition that recounts the most stirring moments in Olympic history.

“Thank you to Lisa Vittozzi and Federico Pellegrino for their donations, which enhance our collection of more than 90,000 unique objects. These items tell stories not only of success, but also of the commitment and sacrifice required to achieve it. Through these donations, visitors from around the world will be able to relive the emotions of Milano Cortina 2026, and younger generations will draw inspiration from the athletes, gaining a deeper understanding of the human and sporting journey that leads to a medal,” said the Director of the Olympic Museum, Angelita Teo.

“To enter, by right, a Museum that preserves the testimony of the finest pages written in sporting history is a great honour for us. We are proud to have contributed to the successes of the Italia Team, and this donation to the IOC stands as further testimony to that,” commented Lisa Vittozzi and Federico Pellegrino in unison.

Curtain falls on Milano Cortina 2026: the Tricolour paraded at the Arena di Verona in the hands of Vittozzi and Ghiotto

• OLYMPIC GAMES

A tribute to beauty to celebrate the conclusion of the Olympics of firsts: with the Closing Ceremony at the Arena di Verona, the curtain officially fell on the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The Tricolour was carried by flagbearers Lisa Vittozzi – the first Olympic champion in the history of Italian biathlon thanks to gold in the women’s pursuit in Anterselva, as well as silver medallist alongside Dorothea Wierer, Tommaso Giacomel and Lukas Hofer in the mixed relay – and Davide Ghiotto, triumphant in the speed skating team pursuit with Andrea Giovannini and Michele Malfatti.

“It was a unique and indescribable emotion, especially because of the enthusiasm conveyed by the crowd. Truly a special moment,” declared Ghiotto. “We experienced something deeply moving. We are proud to have represented our country in the Ceremony that closed the most successful Winter Olympics ever for the Italia Team,” said Vittozzi.

The Italian delegation (photo Simone Ferraro/CONI) took part in the closing parade under the gaze of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, IOC President Kirsty Coventry, CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio and CONI Vice President Diana Bianchedi. Also present were Senate President Ignazio La Russa, Chamber President Lorenzo Fontana, Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, President of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation Giovanni Malagò, as well as representatives of the local authorities involved. Among them were the Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala, and the Mayor of Cortina d’Ampezzo, Gianluca Lorenzi, who handed over to Alpes Françaises 2030, the next Winter edition, represented by the President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, Renaud Muselier, and the President of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region, Fabrice Pannekoucke. It served as a prelude to the extinguishing of the Cauldrons at the Arco della Pace in Milan and in Piazza Angelo Dibona in Cortina.

Thus concludes the Olympics of records and firsts for the Italia Team. Thirty medals in total, including 10 gold, alongside six silver and 14 bronze. Figures surpassing those of Lillehammer 1994, the Winter Games edition which for 32 years had held the Italian record for podium finishes (20) and gold medals (seven). With the largest Italian Winter delegation ever (196 athletes, 103 men and 93 women), the Italia Team won medals in 10 different disciplines (alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle, luge, short track, snowboard and speed skating), one fewer than the historical record set by the United States at PyeongChang 2018. All four flagbearers – the first Olympics in history with four standard-bearers at the Opening Ceremony – won medals: Federico Pellegrino with bronze in the relay and team sprint; Federica Brignone with gold in the giant slalom and super-G; Amos Mosaner with bronze in mixed doubles curling; Arianna Fontana with gold in the mixed relay and silver in the 500 metres and 3,000m women’s relay. The percentage of medals won at Milano Cortina 2026 relative to the total medals awarded (8.62%) is, in absolute terms, second only to the Summer edition of Los Angeles 1932 (9.72%) and the Winter edition of Lillehammer 1994 (10.92%). Numerous individual records were also set. Arianna Fontana surpassed the all-time Italian Olympic medal record (14), previously held by fencing legend Edoardo Mangiarotti (13). In the all-time Winter standings, the Italian short track star is joint second with former Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen, behind only former Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen (15). Francesca Lollobrigida (gold in the 3,000 and 5,000 metres) is the first Italian woman to win the most prestigious medal in speed skating, as well as the first Italian overall to do so since Enrico Fabris (Turin 2006, gold in the 1,500 metres and team pursuit). Federica Brignone’s historic double gold (giant slalom and super-G) mirrors the feat achieved only by Alberto Tomba in alpine skiing at a single edition of the Games (special slalom and giant slalom, Calgary 1988). Historic too was Lisa Vittozzi’s gold in the women’s 10km pursuit, the first Olympic triumph in the history of Italian biathlon.

Among the highlights was Sofia Goggia’s bronze in the downhill, making her the first woman in history to claim three consecutive Olympic podiums in the discipline after gold at PyeongChang 2018 and silver at Beijing 2022. In the Milano Cortina 2026 medal table there was also Italy’s first team medal in figure skating (bronze in the team event: Sara Conti, Niccolò Macii, Charlène Guignard, Marco Fabbri, Daniel Grassl, Matteo Rizzo and Lara Naki Gutmann), the first Italian gold in the short track mixed relay (Chiara Betti, Elisa Confortola, Arianna Fontana, Thomas Nadalini, Pietro Sighel and Luca Spechenhauser), the first double triumph in luge doubles (Simon Kainzwaldner and Emanuel Rieder in the men’s event; Marion Oberhofer and Andrea Vötter in the women’s), a discipline that also saw the first historic podium (bronze) in the team relay (Dominik Fischnaller, Verena Hofer, together with the aforementioned Kainzwaldner, Rieder, Oberhofer and Vötter). Furthermore, the first Italian freestyle medals (gold for Simone Deromedis and silver for Federico Tomasoni in ski cross, and bronze for Flora Tabanelli in big air) and the first medal in the cross-country skiing team sprint (bronze for Elia Barp and Federico Pellegrino). Not forgetting a participation worth a medal in itself: Roland Fischnaller’s seventh Winter Olympic appearance. None like him. No other Olympics like Milano Cortina 2026. The curtain falls, yet the journey continues and the ambition to improve remains unchanged. The Flame is ready to burn again with two major targets in sight: in two years’ time the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Games, and in four the Winter Olympics in the French Alps. (agc)

Milano Cortina 2026 enters history, President Luciano Buonfiglio: “An Olympics worthy of top marks"

• ITALIA TEAM

“An Olympics worthy of top marks: 30/30 with honours.” That was how the President of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), Luciano Buonfiglio, summed up the final balance during the closing press conference (photo Ferdinando Mezzelani/CONI) of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games, held at Casa Italia Milano, with live links to the other hospitality houses in Cortina and Livigno. Thirty medals in total, including ten gold: the five-ring event concluded with record-breaking figures, surpassing those of Lillehammer 1994, the Games which for 32 years had held the Italian Winter record for podium finishes (20) and gold medals (seven).

President Buonfiglio opened the press conference by recalling the words on sport in the New Year’s message of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. “We answered the call with these widespread Games, with 103 men and 93 women, with 10 gold, six silver and 14 bronze medals. With the Milano Cortina Olympics we too have contributed to enriching the history of our Republic,” stated Buonfiglio. “We wish to thank President Mattarella because he has always been present, warm but above all knowledgeable, as he also demonstrated at these Games, where he stood by us on more than one occasion. He attended the Opening Ceremony but was also present at venues where our athletes triumphed. This is an important signal for the entire Italian sporting movement,” added Buonfiglio, who also underlined that the Head of State and the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, were awarded the Olympic Order in Gold, the highest honour of the IOC, whose Executive Board also bestowed the Olympic Order in Silver upon Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Matteo Salvini, Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi, Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti, as well as representatives of local authorities, the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation and SIMICO.

“I thank the Secretary General and Chef de Mission, Carlo Mornati, and all the staff because we lacked nothing. We were capable of overcoming every difficulty in the first widespread Olympics. It was not easy to guarantee the same level of assistance and support to everyone. Sixteen disciplines formed part of the programme, spread across six different locations. The effort was significant and has helped all of us to improve,” explained Buonfiglio. “These were the Games of firsts. The first time with four flagbearers. And all four won medals: Federico Pellegrino with bronze in the relay and team sprint; Federica Brignone with gold in the giant slalom and super-G; Amos Mosaner with bronze in mixed doubles curling; and Arianna Fontana with gold in the 2,000m mixed relay and silver in the 500 metres and 3,000m women’s relay,” continued the CONI President. “We recorded the absolute record for prize money awarded at a Winter Olympic Games. It is the highest level ever recognised by our Olympic Committee at a Winter Olympics. And we would never have tired of awarding more, because behind a cash prize there is recognition of the athletes’ years of commitment, their ability to remain at the top of their disciplines, their determination to overcome any obstacle, and also their capacity to serve as an example in encouraging young people to take up sport.”

Buonfiglio then recalled several of the historic milestones reached at these Games. “Arianna Fontana reached 14 Olympic medals, becoming the most decorated Italian athlete of all time. Francesca Lollobrigida claimed gold in the 3,000 and 5,000 metres, the first Italian woman ever to win in speed skating. Federica Brignone completed an Olympic double (giant slalom and super-G), as only Alberto Tomba had done in 1988. Hers is a story we experienced with great emotion. Then came the first gold in history in biathlon with Lisa Vittozzi. The first team medal in figure skating and the first Olympic double gold in luge doubles events, along with the first podium in the team relay. The first gold in the short track mixed relay arrived, as did Italy’s first-ever freestyle medals with Flora Tabanelli’s bronze in big air and gold and silver for Simone Deromedis and Federico Tomasoni in ski cross. Furthermore, the first medal in the cross-country skiing team sprint was won by Elia Barp and Federico Pellegrino. The wonderful story of Pietro and Arianna Sighel, brother and sister both medallists in their respective relays. And I do not forget Roland Fischnaller, at his seventh Olympics, an Italian record for Winter Games appearances, an example of longevity and dedication. Moreover, if we combine the results of Paris 2024 and Milano Cortina 2026, we are among the top four nations in the world in terms of medals won,” said Buonfiglio, who also recalled that all the athletes present at the IOC Session in Lausanne in 2019 to support the Italian bid stood on the podium at Milano Cortina 2026 (Arianna Fontana, Elisa Confortola, Sofia Goggia, Michela Moioli).

“The medals arrived within the performance evaluation perimeter identified by Olympic Preparation together with the Secretary General. The medal table represents a system capable of working together,” added CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio. “It is not easy; it means listening to others, bringing together the right elements, without entrenching ourselves behind what we want to push forward at all costs, but advancing it in the best, most effective and efficient way. The affection that these Games generated among Italians is what fills us with the greatest pride; it is a feeling that remains within us. The result is extremely positive. Evidently the phrase ‘We are destined to win’ is bearing fruit.”

Speaking also was CONI Secretary General and Chef de Mission Carlo Mornati, who focused on the three Casa Italia venues in Milan, Cortina and Livigno: “It was a new model for us as well. For the first time all were open to the public. At the Triennale in Milan there was one of the greatest forms of activation for the Olympics, a way for the Olympic Committee to open itself to the citizens. The same can be said for Livigno, at Aquagranda, which became a place of gathering. Casa Italia Cortina was effectively an art gallery, open to the general public. The figures are very encouraging and we believe we have done significant work in promoting many disciplines.” At the end of the press conference a video dedicated to the three Casa Italia venues was shown. More than 6,000 square metres were set up across the hospitality houses, enriched by 504 design objects and 123 works of art by 86 national and international artists, attracting over 120,000 guests. A unique blend of sport, art and culture at the Olympics of records. (agc)

The suits of Francesca Lollobrigida, Arianna Fontana and Chiara Betti enter the Olympic Museum in Lausanne

• MILANO CORTINA 2026

Italy’s achievements at Milano Cortina 2026 are now etched into Olympic history. The official suits worn by Francesca Lollobrigida (speed skating), Arianna Fontana (short track) and Chiara Betti (short track) will become part of the permanent collection of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne (Switzerland), the very heart of global sporting memory.

The three Italian athletes donated their competition suits at the conclusion of a memorable Olympic Games for the Italia Team. Francesca Lollobrigida secured two gold medals (3,000 metres – complete with an Olympic record – and 5,000 metres) in speed skating, excelling with historic performances on the long-track oval of the Milano Ice Park. Arianna Fontana, in addition to being one of the leading figures in the short track events thanks to a trio of medals (gold in the 2,000m mixed relay, silver in the 500 metres and another silver in the 3,000m women’s relay), further enhanced her legendary status by establishing herself (considering both Winter and Summer Games) as the most decorated Italian athlete in history with 14 medals (surpassing the previous record held by Italian fencing icon Edoardo Mangiarotti) and by moving into second place in the all-time Winter Olympic medal table alongside former Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen and just one shy of former cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen (15), the most decorated Winter Olympian in history, male or female. Chiara Betti, meanwhile, like Fontana, played her part in the achievements of both the mixed and women’s relays, team feats made possible thanks to the performances of all the other members of the squads.

The handover ceremony took place at the Milan Olympic Village in the presence of the Italia Team’s Deputy Chef de Mission, Enzo Bartolomeo, Frédérique Jamolli, Head of International Cultural Development at the International Olympic Committee, and Chiara Betti herself, who attended the ceremony representing her fellow Italian skaters. An institutional moment which formally marked the entry of the Italian memorabilia into the collection of the world’s most prestigious museum dedicated to the Games. With this donation, Francesca Lollobrigida, Arianna Fontana and Chiara Betti symbolically enter the gallery of great champions who have written the pages of Olympic history, leaving a tangible testament to their participation and achievements at Milano Cortina 2026. (agc)

Andrea Giovannini takes mass start bronze as Italia Team wins its 30th Olympic medal

• SPEED SKATING

Italy’s 30th medal (10 gold, six silver and 14 bronze) at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games bears the signature of Andrea Giovannini. The 32-year-old from Trentino, having celebrated gold four days earlier in the team pursuit alongside Davide Ghiotto and Michele Malfatti, fought back to secure bronze in the mass start — a discipline in which over the course of his distinguished career he has claimed two consecutive World Cup titles (2024 and 2025), two European Championship medals (silver in Kolomna 2018 and bronze in Tomaszów Mazowiecki 2026) and two World Championship medals (bronze in Heerenveen 2023 and historic gold in Hamar 2025). Giovannini is the second Italian to reach the Olympic podium in the mass start, introduced at the Games at PyeongChang 2018, after Francesca Lollobrigida, who also took bronze four years ago in Beijing 2022.

The experienced Italian qualified for the final by finishing fourth in the last semi-final with 13 sprint points behind France’s Timothy Loubineaud (61), China’s Yu Wu (40) and the Netherlands’ Stijn van de Bunt (24). In the final, it was fellow Dutch skater Jorrit Bergsma who raised his arms in triumph (gold with 68), launching an early break and holding off a fierce late surge from Denmark’s Viktor Hald Thorup (silver with 47), the only skater to pursue the leader. On the third step of the Olympic podium stood Giovannini (21), who, after an extremely tactical race in which he was unable to break clear from the pack, prevailed in the finishing sprint in the battle for the top three ahead of American Jordan Stolz (fourth with 10).

Deromedis triumphs in Livigno ahead of Tomasoni: epic Italian one-two in men’s ski cross

• FREESTYLE

Italy made history at Livigno Snow Park. Simone Deromedis and Federico Tomasoni claimed gold and silver respectively, delivering an epic Italian one-two in the men’s ski cross little more than 24 hours before the conclusion of competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games.

It represents only the second and third Italian medals ever in an Olympic freestyle event, following Flora Tabanelli’s bronze five days ago. A double podium unprecedented in this discipline for the Italian colours, which made its Olympic debut just 16 years ago at Vancouver 2010. In a matter of minutes, the Italy Team signed off on its 28th and 29th medals (10 gold, six silver and 13 bronze) of these home Winter Games, simultaneously reaching double figures for gold medals.

Deromedis, fifth at Beijing 2022, world champion in February 2023 at the World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia, and arriving at Milano Cortina 2026 fresh from victory on 31 January at Park Monzoni in the second World Cup race at Passo San Pellegrino, began his campaign on the snow of the Valtellina venue with the ninth-fastest time (1:07.55) in the seeding round. Tomasoni, third three years ago in the mixed team at the World Championships alongside Jole Galli and competing in his first individual Olympic final (sixth again at Bakuriani in the individual race and with a best World Cup finish of fifth in December 2023 at Arosa, Switzerland), recorded the 17th fastest time (1:08.01) in the preliminary phase.

The 25-year-old from Trentino and the 28-year-old from Bergamo then finished first and second in their respective round-of-16 heats, before producing outstanding teamwork in both the quarter-final and opening semi-final, where on both occasions Deromedis crossed the line ahead of Tomasoni, guaranteeing Italy a medal. In the big final reserved for the top four skiers, the Val di Non phenomenon produced a start to remember, immediately taking control from the first turn — never relinquishing it — and carrying the victory home in champion’s style.

Behind him, amid the celebrations of the Italian crowd lining the course in Livigno, the skier from Castione della Presolana, born in 1997, snatched silver in a photo finish ahead of Switzerland’s Alex Fiva (bronze), sealing the top two steps of the podium for Italy. Tomasoni immediately pointed to the sky in memory of his partner Matilde Lorenzi, the young Italian women’s alpine skiing prospect who passed away in October 2024. Japan’s Satoshi Furuno finished fourth. There was disappointment for the other two Italians in action, Dominik Zuech and Edoardo Zorzi, whose campaigns ended respectively in the quarter-finals and round of 16. (agc)

Record-breaking Milano Cortina, General Secretary Carlo Mornati: “This truly is the strongest Italia Team ever”

• OLYMPIC GAMES

On the morning of the penultimate day of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, CONI General Secretary and Chef de Mission Carlo Mornati addressed the press from Casa Italia Livigno, offering reflections on Italy’s performances at these Games and on the pathway that has enabled the Italia Team to reach a record tally of 29 medals (including ten gold), with competitions still to be concluded.

“When we discussed medal projections, I went so far as to say that this would be our strongest Olympic team ever. We had the highest Olympic Index in our history in winter disciplines — the algorithm that takes into account all athletes' performances weighted across the 116 events of the Games: it stood at 6.58 and after nineteen days of competition it has risen to 7.15. The result is exceptional. Today, even with the Games not yet finished, we can say that we truly have the strongest Azzurri team ever, and that it has translated this strength into medals,” Carlo Mornati began during the press conference in Livigno, in the presence of Deputy Chef de Mission Elisa Santoni (Valtellina Cluster Manager), with links to the other hospitality houses. At Casa Italia Cortina, hosted at the Farsetti Gallery, Deputy Chef de Mission Vicario Alessio Palombi and Deputy Chef de Mission and Head of Communications and Protocol Danilo Di Tommaso were present, while at Casa Italia in Milan, at the Triennale, Deputy Chefs de Mission Enzo Bartolomeo (Milan Cluster Manager) and Giampiero Pastore (IMSS Manager) attended. Also connected was Deputy Chef de Mission and Val di Fiemme Cluster Manager Alessio Boggiatto.

“This is not a final balance — that will come at the end,” the General Secretary clarified. “But rather a technical reflection towards the close of the Olympics, with many athletes still competing. We entered sixteen disciplines and won medals in ten of them. Behind the numbers lies eight years of work by two federations and by the Olympic Committee, as well as, naturally, the athletes’ efforts,” Mornati explained — just minutes before the remarkable one-two secured by Simone Deromedis (gold) and Federico Tomasoni (silver) in the men’s ski cross, medals number 28 and 29 for Italy — later recalling figures from the Censis report entitled The Social Value of CONI’s Institutional Functions, presented last 16 December. “After Paris we commissioned Censis to carry out a study to verify the true social value behind Italian sporting success. The data were exceptional: for 89% of Italians, across a sample ranging from 15 to 90 years of age, winning Olympic medals is extremely important because it brings prestige and fosters unity within the country, enabling it to hold a prominent position internationally. That is something very beautiful, and the same applies socially. For 87% of Italians, medals won by athletes are important because they encourage young people to take up sport. Knowing that behind these successes there will be more registered members and youngsters approaching sport gives enormous social value to the work we do every day,” Mornati added, recalling scholarships amounting to €1,120,000 and prize money totalling €6,240,000 distributed by CONI. “We are very pleased. Referring again to the Censis report, for 81.3% of Italians it is essential to guarantee financial support to athletes competing at major events and therefore at the Olympic Games. It is not an aspect felt only by us, but one that carries social value for Italians,” Mornati’s words.

Behind the success lies work stretching from the Olympic Preparation Centres to scientific research and sports medicine. “We entered 196 athletes and there are 268 officials. Fifty belong to CONI and 218 to the federations. That is an exceptional number. If there is one field in which CONI is the undisputed Olympic champion, it is precisely this. The Olympic Games average is around 100 officials; we have 168 more. This means every single athlete has an engineer, a physiotherapist, a doctor, a coach and technical support staff well above the average of their competitors,” Carlo Mornati recalled. “Milano Cortina, like Paris, marks the end of a journey. The main strands of CONI’s Olympic preparation are relations with the federations, assistance to athletes, the use of Olympic Preparation Centres and research conducted by the Institute of Sports Medicine and Science. Sport must live daily life alongside athletes and that is what we have tried to do since 2014: full completion came in Paris in 2024, while in Milano Cortina there has been an explosion,” Mornati explained. “In every cluster and structure this small ecosystem has been replicated and the athlete found the same physiotherapist, the same engineer and the same technician who had followed them over the years. Of the 196 athletes across sixteen disciplines, before coming here 104 from nine disciplines were directly supported within this ecosystem. The intervention is at the request of the federations and it means the relevant federations have great trust in CONI’s technical-scientific tools.” (agc)

Italy claim bronze in the men’s relay: Beijing 2022 result confirmed

• SHORT TRACK

Italy secured its fourth short track podium of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games. On the ice of the Ice Skating Arena, Pietro Sighel, Thomas Nadalini, Luca Spechenhauser and Andrea Cassinelli claimed bronze in the men’s 5,000m relay, matching the result achieved four years ago at Beijing 2022. It is another celebration for Italian short track following gold in the mixed relay — with Sighel, Nadalini and Spechenhauser standing on the top step of the podium alongside Arianna Fontana, Chiara Betti and Elisa Confortola — and the silver medals won by Fontana in the 500m and by the women’s 3,000m relay team.

Italy – who qualified for the final thanks to a second-place finish in Monday’s semi-final behind Canada – made a measured start, initially sitting towards the back of the field, though briefly moving into the lead between laps 20 and 21. In the closing sprint the Azzurri successfully defended third place from a late Canadian charge (fourth). Gold went to the Netherlands, ahead of South Korea (silver), who, like Italy, replicated their placing from Beijing 2022. In China, alongside Sighel and Cassinelli, Yuri Confortola and Tommaso Dotti had stood on the third step of the podium. Four years on, another medal arrives for Italy’s men’s short track team, delivering the nation’s 27th medal (nine gold, five silver and 13 bronze) at Milano Cortina 2026. (agc)

Silver for Italy in the women’s 3.000m relay, as Arianna Fontana breaks Edoardo Mangiarotti’s record

• SHORT TRACK

A silver born of collective endeavour, yet one that also places a historic seal on the career of a timeless champion. Italy’s 26th medal at Milano Cortina 2026 arrived in the women’s 3,000m short track relay at the Ice Skating Arena and bears the names of Chiara Betti, Elisa Confortola, Arianna Sighel and Arianna Fontana. A team triumph, following gold in the mixed relay on 10 February, but also a long-awaited individual milestone: Fontana claimed her 14th Olympic medal (three gold, six silver, five bronze), becoming the most decorated Italian athlete of all time across both the Winter and Summer Games, surpassing the previous record of 13 podium finishes set by fencing legend Edoardo Mangiarotti.

The Italian quartet (photo Ferdinando Mezzelani/CONI) completed their mission after finishing second in last Saturday’s semi-final behind the Netherlands. This time, however, the Dutch saw their race end on the eleventh lap of the final. Italy, fielding the same line-up as in the semi-final, capitalised on the opportunity, overtaking Canada (bronze medallists) and battling all the way to the final bend against South Korea, who ultimately claimed gold. It was a prestigious silver won in the presence of President of the Council of Ministers Giorgia Meloni — who personally congratulated the athletes after the race — accompanied by CONI President Luciano Buonfiglio and Minister for Sport and Youth Andrea Abodi.

For Arianna Fontana, it is her second silver medal of these Games following her individual podium in the 500 metres, and her record-breaking figures now extend beyond national boundaries. The Italian star moves clear of former Dutch speed skater Ireen Wüst (13 medals), drawing level in second place on the all-time Winter Olympic medal table with former Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjørndalen (14) and moving to within one of former Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen (15), the most decorated athlete — male or female — in Winter Olympic history. (agc)