Historic gold for Italy’s mixed relay: 10th medal for the Italia Team at Milano Cortina

SHORT TRACK

11 February 2026

The 10th medal for the Italia Team at Milano Cortina 2026 coincided with a historic gold for Italy’s mixed short track relay, as the Azzurri returned to the Olympic podium and improved upon the silver secured four years ago at Beijing 2022.

The Italian quartet – Elisa Confortola, Arianna Fontana, Thomas Nadalini and Pietro Sighel – dominated the 2,000m final at the Ice Skating Arena. Also receiving medals were Chiara Betti and Luca Spechenhauser, who took to the Milan ice respectively in the first semi-final and in the opening quarter-final heat, where Italy finished second behind the Netherlands. In the penultimate act, the Italian team (photo Claudio Scaccini/CONI) crossed the line ahead of China, the Netherlands and France to book their place in the A final reserved for the top four nations.

In the decisive race, Italy moved into the lead on lap five, consolidating their advantage over Canada (silver) and Belgium (bronze). It marks Italy’s fourth Olympic gold in short track history.

It was a team triumph made even more special by Arianna Fontana, Italy’s most decorated athlete in Winter Olympic history. Twenty years after her relay bronze at Torino 2006, she claimed her 12th career medal (three golds, four silvers and five bronzes), just one shy of fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti, who holds the record as Italy’s most medalled Olympian of all time (six golds, five silvers and two bronzes), including Summer Games appearances.

It was Fontana and Elisa Confortola – then just 17 and fresh from success at the EYOF 2018 – who spoke in Lausanne in June 2019 during the 134th IOC Session that awarded Italy the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. A home celebration rooted in a journey that began long ago. (agc)