L’Angelo Biondo (the Blonde Angel) has lost count of the times she has won or raced but her Olympic memories remain clear. In November, Olympics.com spoke to the timeless Italian skater about her passion for short track, the Olympic season and what the Olympic Winter Games mean to her.
At the first Short Track World Cup event of the 2021/22 season, which also doubled as an Olympic qualifier, Arianna Fontana took second place in the 500m race – her favourite distance. It was exactly 10 years after she triumphed for the first time on the elite circuit at age 21 in Saguenay, Canada.
This time, racing on the same rink that will be the official venue of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, she became the oldest short track speed skater ever to stand on a World Cup podium.
L’Angelo Biondo has lost count of the times she has won or raced but her Olympic memories remain clear. She has medalled at all of the four Olympic Winter Games she has competed in, beginning with her debut at Turin 2006, where she became Italy’s youngest medallist at the Winter Games at 15 years and 314 days old. Together with Apolo Ohno and Viktor An she holds the record for most Winter Olympic medals, with eight.
Olympics.com spoke to the timeless skater based in Bormio about her passion for short track, the Olympic season and what the Olympic Winter Games mean to her.
Olympics.com: You had a convincing start to the season with your win at the World Cup. Some 10 years have now passed since your first podium. How did that feel?
Arianna Fontana: Yes, my first World Cup win was in Canada, but I honestly didn’t remember that [the anniversary] and it’s definitely good news, as it seems that I’m the oldest [to have made it onto a World Cup podium]. But let’s just say the record of having had a 10 year career is nicer! It was an intense two weeks and it’s been great. It began with the goal of reaching the finals [A and B] to achieve a good ranking for the Olympics. Then, of course, if you reach the finals you’re competing for a medal.
OC: You’re in your 16th season racing on the elite short track circuit. Has there been anything particularly hard for you to adapt to since you started?
AF: The sport has changed a lot since 2006. The manner in which you skate has changed, as well as the regulations. All of these changes caused short track to grow quickly and people who have been in the sport for as long as I have had to adapt accordingly. Luckily, I have been able to adapt easily, even though it’s been many years and there are always young, new athletes [to compete against]. But I’ve always managed – thanks also to my team – to be one step ahead. So maybe that has helped.
OC: Short track is a very nerve-wracking sport. How do you cope with a sport where your training and sacrifices can sometimes not matter because you are disqualified or fall?
AF: It’s not easy, but we all know it’s part of the game because the rules are quite strict and it’s a sport of speed and power. So much can happen in just a few seconds and it’s not even easy for the judges. Personally, I try to race as cleanly as possible to avoid penalties or getting disqualified, putting myself in the right position at the right time so I’m ready to take advantage of other people’s mistakes. But sometimes an athlete falls in front of you so you also fall. It happened to me last weekend and you need to pick yourself up and set your mind on the next race.
OC: How would you convince a young girl to start training for short track?
AF: Short track has many different characteristics rolled into one. It’s a sport that requires speed and explosiveness but you also need to be intelligent, be able to read and interpret the race, and tactics also come into the equation. So it has many components, you need to be good at a lot of different things, and I think women are good at that. It’s a women’s discipline, even though many think of it as a male sport due to it being quite physical. It involves many other qualities that women have and know how to use well.
OC: Your fifth Olympics are on the horizon. How have each of them been different for you, as an athlete and a person?
AF: They are all unique in terms of history, and in my mind. Honestly, I don’t think I have a favourite, they were all fantastic with good moments and beautiful memories.
OC: Let’s start with Turin 2006.
AF: I was still 15, so I was a kid. Honestly, I only realised what had happened afterwards. When I was in Turin, I enjoyed the Olympic Village a lot. I tried to talk to other athletes, even those from other countries, even though my English was non-existent back then. But I was curious and I really wanted to enjoy the moment.
Marta Capurso, Arianna Fontana, Katia Zini and Mara Zini, of the Italian short track team, receive the Bronze medal in the women’s 3000 metres relay in Turin 2006