Arianna Fontana triumphed in the women's 500 metre short track event on Monday to win Italy's first gold medal of the Beijing Winter Olympics. It is Fontana's 10th Olympic medal, enabling her to match the record of cross-country skier Stefania Belmondo. She also won gold in the same event in Pyeongchang four years ago. Furthermore, it is her second medal in Beijing after she helped Italy win the mixed 2000 metre short track relay.
"Arianna you have gone down in history!" said Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) President Giovanni Malagò. "You deserve 10 out of 10 with distinction. "With this 10th medal you have reached Stefania Belmondo as the female athlete with the most medals in the history of Italian sport. And, as you are well aware, it is not over yet".
