Italian · Italy · Born 14 April 1990Italian short track speed skater and Italy's most decorated Olympian across both Summer and Winter Games, who became the first woman to win a medal at six consecutive Winter Olympics.
Arianna Fontana was born on 14 April 1990 and began skating at four, following her brother Alessandro, initially on roller skates before switching to ice. She made a stunning Olympic debut at Turin 2006 aged just 15, winning bronze in the 3,000m relay to become the youngest Italian ever to medal at a Winter Olympics. Fontana developed into the world's premier 500m specialist, winning Olympic silver at Sochi 2014 (upgraded after a British skater was disqualified for causing a crash) and finally claiming individual gold in the 500m at Pyeongchang 2018, becoming the first European to win the event, part of a three-medal haul that made her the most decorated female short track skater in Olympic history. She defended her 500m title at Beijing 2022, adding two more medals to bring her career total to 11 across five Games. At her sixth Olympics, on home ice at Milan-Cortina 2026, Fontana became the first woman ever to win a medal at six consecutive Winter Olympics with gold in the mixed team relay, before adding silver in the 500m and a further silver in the 3,000m relay to overtake fencer Edoardo Mangiarotti as Italy's most decorated Olympian of all time - across both Summer and Winter Games - with 14 total medals. Twice named Italy's Olympic flagbearer, she has built her career around remarkable longevity, having married fellow skater and coach Anthony Lobello Jr. in 2014, and has also competed internationally in long track speed skating in her final competitive seasons.
Becoming Italy's most decorated Olympian in history - across both Summer and Winter Games - and the first woman ever to medal at six consecutive Winter Olympics
How They Played
Technically precise 500m specialist renowned for perfectly timed inside passes and remarkable composure across two decades of elite competition
Lasting Impact
Widely regarded as the greatest female short track speed skater in Olympic history, whose two-decade career of sustained excellence redefined longevity standards in the sport
Career Honours
- 2x Olympic Gold Medalist, 500m (2018, 2022)
- 1x Olympic Gold Medalist, Mixed Team Relay (2026)
- 14 total Olympic medals - Italy's most decorated Olympian ever, Summer or Winter
- First woman to medal at 6 consecutive Winter Olympics
Italian Athletes