Arianna Fontana

www.facebook.com/arianna.fontana.12
twitter.com/AryFonta

Reason for choosing this sport	She followed her older brother Alessandro into the sport. He had started skating a year before her. "I liked winning as a child."
Name of coach	Anthony Lobello [husband, personal]
When and where did you begin this sport?	She began inline skating at age four in Sondrio, Italy, and later took up short track in Valmalenco, Italy.

Awards and honours	In 2020 she received the Cristallo d'Oro [Golden Crystal] Award from the Italian Winter Sports Federation [FISI] and the Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. (gazzetta.it, 01 Aug 2020; fisg.it, 02 Aug 2020) She was named Best Female Athlete of the Olympic Winter Games at the 2018 Association of National Olympic Committees [ANOC] awards. (anocolympic.org, 2018; FISG, 09 Oct 2019) She was flag bearer for Italy at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. She had performed the same role at the closing ceremony of the 2014 Games in Sochi. (isu.org, 10 Feb 2018; insidethegames.biz, 22 Oct 2017) She was made a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2006. (quirinale.it, 2006)
Other information	MOVE TO HUNGARY In July 2020 she relocated to Budapest, Hungary, in order to prepare for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing alongside her husband Anthony Lobello and the Hungarian national team. She made the decision to leave Italy following a disagreement with national coaches and Italian Ice Sports Federation [FISG]. "There were some problems with the coaches and a little bit with the federation. The environment within the team was not professional, so the decision to move to another country was already taken at the end of the season [2019/20]. I moved to Budapest where, with the guidance of Anthony Lobello and with new training companions, I will prepare for the next Olympics in 2022. I am happy but also sad because I know that I will not be able to be on the ice to train and help all the Italian athletes. I went to Hungary because I already had experience training with the national team. I'm very happy. They are a very good group, young and with the attitude of improving and winning. And for me, at 30 years old, it is a boost of energy." (lastampa.it, 18 Jul 2020; corrieredellosport.it, 18 Jul 2020; teleunica.tv, 03 Nov 2020) CONSIDERING RETIREMENT After becoming the most decorated female athlete in short track at the Olympic Winter Games at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang, she took some time away from the sport to consider whether she wanted to retire. Her total of eight Winter Olympic medals puts her level with Russian short track skater Victor An and US short track skater Apolo Anton Ohno, and she was motivated to continue through to the 2022 Games in Beijing by the chance to become the first short track skater, male or female, to win nine medals at the Olympic Winter Games. "One more medal and I can become the most decorated short track athlete in Olympic Winter Games history in both the men's and women's disciplines." (oasport.it, 29 May 2018) BREAK She did not compete for a significant part of the 2015/16 season. "I was pretty tired mentally. My body was ready to race again but my mind was not. It was hard for me. After the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi I had some doubts about whether to keep skating or not. Maybe it would have been better to take that year right after the Olympic Games off, but I decided to keep going. It is not that I regret it but I had some hard times that season. So I [felt] like it is better that I really take a step back so I can just focus on myself, my family and friends and spend some time with them." (olympics.nbcsports.com, 24 Feb 2018; isu.org, 10 Jan 2017)
Most influential person in career	Her husband Anthony, and Bulgarian short track skater Evgenia Radanova. (Athlete, 08 Nov 2017)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"Believe in more. Find more inspiration. Your biggest obstacles are internal. Dig deep to dig them out." (FISG, 09 Oct 2019)
Famous relatives	Her husband Anthony Lobello has competed in short track at the Olympic Winter Games. He represented the United States of America at the 2006 Games in Turin, and skated for Italy at the 2014 Games in Sochi. (SportsDeskOnline, 02 Feb 2017; Athlete, 01 Feb 2017)
Nicknames	Ary, Freccia Bionda [Blond Arrow], Angelo Biondo [Blond Angel]. (Instagram profile, 01 Feb 2017; repubblica.it, 15 Jan 2017; eurosport.com, 30 Nov 2016)
Injuries	At age 12 she broke her ankle and was unable to skate for three months. (Athlete, 08 Nov 2017)
Hero / Idol	Italian motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi. (Athlete, 08 Nov 2017)
Ambitions	To win a medal at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, and to get involved in politics after she retires. (oasport.it, 29 May 2018; ilsussidiario.net, 04 Mar 2018)
Memorable sporting achievement	Being a member of the Milano/Cortina 2026 Olympic Candidature Team, and winning eight Olympic medals including gold in the 500m at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. (FISG, 09 Oct 2019)
Milestones	At the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang she became the most decorated female athlete in short track at the Olympic Winter Games after she won gold [500m], silver [3000m relay] and bronze [1000m] to bring her overall tally to eight medals. (olympic.org, 05 Apr 2018; olympics.nbcsports.com, 24 Feb 2018; SportsDeskOnline, 17 Dec 2020) She became the first Italian female skater to win an individual Olympic medal in short track when she claimed bronze in the 500m at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. At age 15 years and 314 days, she also became the youngest Italian to win an Olympic Winter Games medal when she was part of the team that finished third in the 3000m relay at the 2006 Games in Turin. (olympic.org, 05 Apr 2018; olympics.nbcsports.com, 24 Feb 2018; Emporio Armani Twitter page, 22 Feb 2018; ilsussidiario.net, 13 Feb 2012; ilgiornale.it, 24 Feb 2006; SportsDeskOnline, 17 Dec 2020)