A great suffering but a great final party at the Beijing Olympics. Celebrate Ariadne Fontana who wins the first gold of Italy at the Olympics in the short track 500 meters. "You deserve 10 and praise”Says the President of Coni Giovanni Malagó.
With this medal, Fontana became the most “medaled” athlete in the history of his sport at the Games. This is Arianna Fontana's tenth medal at Olympics. During his career he also won 2 World Cups. The athlete became European Champion 7 times. Arianna Fontana has a tradition of medals, she has won:
- the bronze medal at the World Championships in England in 2011;
- bronze at the 2012 Shanghai World Championships;
- silver at the 2015 World Championships in Moscow;
- Another bronze at the 2021 Dodrecht World Championships.
Other Italian medals at the Beijing Olympics
At this moment Italy is celebrating the first gold brought home by the Fountain, but it also boasts 3 silvers and 1 bronze. To open the medal of Italy was the 31-year-old Roman skater, Francesca Lollobrigida, who won the silver in the 3000 meters, behind the Dutch Schouten.
A silver came from the skis with Federico Brignone in giant, who after the award ceremony told Rai Sport: "I got so excited, it's an incredible day. I am proud of what I have done and very happy for the silver, I dreamed of taking home a medal".
Arianna Fontana herself had been part of the blue quartet in short tracks, composed with Martina Valcepina, Pietro Sighel and Andrea Cassinelli who got on the podium bringing another silver to the medal table of Italy.
The only bronze conquered by Italy so far has been that of Dominik Filehner with the sled. The 28 year old carabiniere from South Tyrol won a medal in the men's singles. A victory that smells of redemption, after losing the podium by only 2 thousandths in the last Olympics.
