Arianna Fontana by the numbers

Italian star Fontana took silver in the 1500m at Beijing 2022 to become Italy's most decorated Winter Olympian having already won more medals than any other short track skater. Here's how she did it.

Fontana 500m gold

(2022 Getty Images)

Arianna Fontana has rewritten the record books at Beijing 2022.

In her fifth Games, the 35-year-old Italian short track star won silver in the 1500m behind reigning champion Choi Minjeong on Wednesday (16 February) to take her tally to 11 medals.

That leaves her alone as her country's most decorated Winter Olympian, one clear of cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo who won 10 medals at five Games up to Salt Lake 2002.

Fontana's silver in the first Olympic mixed relay saw her break her tie with Apolo Anton Ohno and Victor An (eight apiece) for most Olympic short track medals.

Then she retained the individual 500m title she won at PyeongChang 2018 last Monday to reach double figures before missing out on finals in both the 1000m and women's 3000m relay.

But she returned to the podium in the final event in Beijing to make it two gold, four silver and five bronze medals in her five Games.

Fontana made her Olympic debut at Torino 2006, winning bronze in the 3000m relay, becoming the youngest Italian to win a medal at a Winter Games at just 16.

She has thrived both as an individual and as part of a team, winning four of her medals in relays and the other six when competing alone.

The 32-year-old showed her class and experience to retain her 500m title, overcoming a sluggish start to pass her great rival Suzanne Schulting with just over a lap to go to take gold.

She also edged out the Dutchwoman in the 1500m final, crossing the line just three-thousandths of a second in front to take silver.

Another cross-country skier, Norway's Marit Bjørgen, has the most medals in Winter Olympic history with 15 before her retirement after PyeongChang.

Arianna Fontana at the Olympic Winter Games - all 11 medals

Torino 2006

Women's 3000m relay bronze behind South Korea and Canada

Vancouver 2010

Individual 500m bronze behind Wang Meng (CHN) and Marianne St-Gelais (CAN)

Sochi 2014

Individual 500m silver behind Li Jianrou (CHN)

Individual 1500m bronze behind Zhou Yang (CHN) and Shim Sukhee (KOR)

Women's 3000m relay bronze behind South Korea and Canada

PyeongChang 2018

Individual 500m gold

Women's 3000m relay silver behind South Korea

Individual 1000m bronze behind Suzanne Schulting (NED) and Kim Boutin (CAN)

Beijing 2022

Mixed relay silver behind China

Individual 500m gold

Individual 1500m silver behing Choi Minjeong (KOR)

When to watch Arianna Fontana in competition at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022

Fontana's final event in Beijing is the women's 3000m relay.

The heats are on Wednesday 9 February, at 20:45 (13:45 CET) with the final on Sunday 13 February.

MORE: How to watch short track speed skating at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022

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