The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics will showcase short track speed skating at the Milano Ice Skating Arena in Assago, bringing high expectations for Italy. Renowned for its tight curves, overtaking, and nail-biting finishes, short track also demands athletes to navigate a myriad of rules, where small infractions can lead to penalties that may alter the outcome of a race. The standout figure in this discipline is Arianna Fontana, who holds the record as the most decorated athlete in Olympic short track history.
Short track is a relatively young sport in the Olympic arena; it made its debut as a demonstration event in 1988 and became an official sport starting in 1992. Since then, it has developed a distinct identity characterized by high speeds, strategic drafting, and a stringent set of rules that delineate fair competition from rule-breaking actions.
Competitions in short track are conducted on a 111.12-meter oval track with multiple athletes racing simultaneously. The format includes heats, quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals, with advancement based on placement rather than time. Due to the close proximity of racers, staying on the track while avoiding interference with opponents is vital. Actions such as contact, pushing, altering lanes to obstruct an opponent, shortcutting the track, or illegal overtakes can result in penalties or disqualifications. The judges are also equipped with the discretion to advance a competitor who has been unfairly obstructed by an opponent.
In the relay events (3000 meters for women and 5000 meters for men), teamwork and strategic baton exchanges come into play, with the overall order of finish being critical. Similar to individual races, any incidents of contact will be scrutinized, ensuring fairness.
Historically, short track has been a reliable source of medals for Italy. At the Beijing 2022 Olympics, Italian athletes earned four medals: gold in the 500 meters and silver in the 1500 meters by Arianna Fontana, silver in the mixed relay event, and bronze in the men’s 5000-meter relay. Fontana leads the way with an impressive Olympic medal tally of 11 medals, which includes both individual and relay races, placing her in an unparalleled position within Italian winter sports.
The roster of Italian athletes competing in Milano Cortina 2026 features male competitors Andrea Cassinelli, Thomas Nadalini, Lorenzo Previtali, Pietro Sighel, and Luca Spechenhauser. For the women’s team, alongside Fontana, are Chiara Betti, Elisa Confortola, Gloria Ioriatti, and Arianna Sighel.
All short track events will unfold at the Milano Ice Skating Arena starting Tuesday, February 10. The schedule will kick off with morning qualifiers followed by evening sessions of quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. Notably, the first individual medals will be contested on Thursday, February 12, with competitions spanning various distances and including both individual and relay events, culminating in a thrilling series of races through February 20.
The anticipation for short track at Milano Cortina 2026 is palpable, particularly with a seasoned veteran like Arianna Fontana representing Italy, instilling hope for continued success in this electrifying sport.