Arianna Fontana broke three records at her home Olympics // Photo: reuters.com
The Italian broke two more records. Fontana won the medal in Milan 20 years after her debut Olympic success in 2006. No athlete has ever achieved such a long period of time on the podium at the Winter Games.
In addition, Fontana became the oldest short track champion ever, winning a medal at 35 years, 302 days. She surpassed by almost four years the achievement of American Katie Turner, who won gold and bronze medals at the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.
For the Italian, the medal at the current Games was the 12th of her career. She has won three gold, four silver and five bronze Olympic medals. Fontana is the most decorated athlete in the history of women’s Olympic short track speed skating.
Fontana made her Olympic debut in 2006 in Turin, Italy. At the age of 15 years and 314 days, she won a bronze medal in the relay and became the youngest Italian athlete to win a medal at the Winter Olympics.
The short track team’s gold medal was Italy’s second in the first four days of competition. As of the morning of February 11, Italy is in seventh place in the team medal standings (two gold, two silver and seven bronze medals).
The XXV Winter Olympic Games are being held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo in northern Italy from February 6-22. About 2.9 thousand athletes from 93 countries are taking part in them.
