Italian Skater Fontana Makes History with 14th Olympic Medal

Arianna Fontana stood in the changing room at Milano Cortina 2026, overwhelmed and speechless. The Italian short track speed skater had just won her third medal of these Games, a silver in the women's 3000m relay, making her the most decorated Olympian in Italy's entire history.

At 35 years old, Fontana now has 14 Olympic medals spanning both Winter and Summer Games. No Italian athlete has ever achieved more.

"I'm lost for words," she said after the race. "I had a moment where it all hit me, thinking back over everything."

The milestone feels perfectly timed. Fontana made her Olympic debut at just 15 years old during Turin 2006, the last time Italy hosted the Winter Games. Twenty years later, she's back on home ice, still competing at the highest level in a sport dominated by athletes a decade younger.

In the 500m earlier this week, she stood on the podium beside two skaters both 10 years her junior. Her longevity in such a demanding sport speaks to more than just physical ability.

"I stay true to myself, and that's what I think really helped me throughout all these years," Fontana told Olympics.com before the Games began. She described Turin 2006 as her "welcome party to the world" and Milano Cortina 2026 as her "homecoming party."

Why This Inspires

Fontana's journey shows that peak performance doesn't have an expiration date. While many athletes retire in their late twenties, she continues pushing boundaries and rewriting record books well into her thirties.

Her husband Anthony Lobello, who also serves as her coach, has been by her side watching this remarkable career unfold. Together they've built a legacy that extends far beyond medals, proving that dedication and staying authentic to yourself can sustain excellence for decades.

The numbers tell only part of the story. Across six Olympic Games spanning Vancouver, Sochi, Pyeongchang, Beijing, and now Milano Cortina, she's collected gold, silver, and bronze in events ranging from the 500m sprint to team relays.

On Friday, she'll compete in the 1500m with a chance to win her 15th Olympic medal. Even then, she refuses to say these will be her final Olympics, still driven by the same passion that brought her to the ice as a teenager.

For young athletes watching from the stands or their living rooms, Fontana's message is clear: greatness isn't about fitting a timeline set by others. It's about loving what you do and refusing to stop growing.