Arianna Fontana targets two sports for Milano-Cortina 2026

The double 500m champion will aim for the two new events on the Olympic speed skating program; the mass start and the team pursuit.

She is no stranger to doubling in competition, something she did as a 12 -year-old.

To set off her journey, she recently competed at a senior speed skating competition at a preseason event at the Utah Olympic Oval, just outside Salt Lake City, where she splits her training alongside Montreal.

On 31 August, she competed in the 500m and the 3000m, and also set her personal best over the 1500m, a day later.

“The long straightaway, I’m still working on it,” said Fontana on the difficulties of the longer course event.

“On short track, the movements are really, really fast. On long track, I really need to take my time, especially on the straightaway.”

Fontana hopes to qualify for World Cups in speed skating and also short track in the 2024-25 season.

She is yet to decide which of the world championships she would compete in, as they are both scheduled for the same weekend in March – one in China and the other Norway.