Arianna Fontana Secures European Gold in 1500m Short Track

Published on January 19, 2026 | Translated from Spanish
Arianna Fontana celebrates her victory on the ice track after winning the 1500m final at the European Short Track Championships in Tilburg, Netherlands.

Arianna Fontana wins European gold in 1500m short track

The Italian skater Arianna Fontana claimed the gold medal in the 1500m event at the European Short Track Speed Skating Championships, held in Tilburg. This achievement marks Italy's first victory in this distance at the continental event 🥇.

A podium with an Italian stamp

The race ended with a podium that highlighted the strength of the Italian team. The Dutch skater Zoe Deltrap took silver, while the also Italian Arianna Sighel completed the honors with bronze. This result underscores Italian dominance in the event, where two of its representatives were among the top three.

Key results from the Italian delegation:
  • First Italian gold in the 1500m at the European championship.
  • Two Italian skaters on the podium in the same event.
  • Interruption of a possible total double by the local skater.
The Dutch ice seemed to favor the Italian team, which accumulated a great haul of medals in their preparation for the home Olympic event.

Overall performance towards Milano-Cortina 2026

This championship served as a crucial preparation scenario for the upcoming Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games. The Italian delegation demonstrated solid form, accumulating a total of eight medals across all competitions in the event.

Context of the Italian performance:
  • The team achieved eight medals in the championship as a whole.
  • The competition in Tilburg was an important test before the Olympics.
  • Fontana, with a long career, led the success in the 1500m.

A preparation that promises

The performance in Tilburg consolidates Italy as a team to watch ahead of Milano-Cortina 2026. Achieving a double podium in a key event and accumulating multiple medals reflects effective preparation and heralds a promising future for Italian speed skating at the national Olympic event 🏆.