Arianna Fontana is one of Italy’s most celebrated athletes and a legendary figure in short track speed skating.
Born on April 14, 1990, in Sondrio, Italy, in the scenic Valtellina valley, she grew up in Berbenno di Valtellina.
She began skating at the remarkably young age of four, initially on roller skates before transitioning to ice.
Her passion for the sport was sparked by her older brother Alessandro, whose own involvement in skating inspired her to follow in his footsteps..
She is married to Anthony Lobello, an Italian-American former skater who serves as her coach, and the couple splits time between Italy and Florida.
Siblings
Arianna has at least one sibling, an older brother named Alessandro Fontana.
He introduced her to skating when she was just four years old, as she followed his lead on roller skates before the family shifted focus to ice skating.
Career
Fontana’s career spans over two decades and is defined by remarkable longevity and consistency in short track speed skating.
She made her Olympic debut at the 2006 Turin Winter Games at just 15 years old, becoming the youngest Italian athlete ever to win an Olympic medal when she claimed bronze in the women’s 3000m relay.
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This marked the beginning of an unparalleled run across six Winter Olympics.
She went on to compete in Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, Pyeongchang 2018, Beijing 2022, and her home Games in Milano Cortina 2026.
Specializing particularly in the 500m event, she has excelled in both individual races and relays.
After early successes, she married Anthony Lobello in 2014, who became her coach and helped refine her training, leading to a surge in individual achievements.
She has also ventured into long-track speed skating in recent years while maintaining her short track dominance.
Even at age 35 during the 2026 Olympics, she continued to compete at the highest level, carrying Italy’s flag and contributing to team successes in front of hometown crowds.
Accolades
Fontana holds the record as the most decorated short track speed skater of all time, with a total of 12 Olympic medals across six Games: three gold, four silver, and five bronze.
Her golds include the 500m in Pyeongchang 2018, the 500m in Beijing 2022, and the 2000m mixed relay in Milano Cortina 2026.
She became the first woman to win Olympic medals in six consecutive Winter Games and the first European to win Olympic gold in the women’s 500m.
Beyond the Olympics, she has earned one world championship title (in the 1500m in 2015), 13 world medals overall, and an impressive 34 European medals, including 18 golds.
Additional honors include multiple Collare d’Oro awards for sporting merit and the Cristallo d’Oro from the Italian Winter Sports Federation.
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