The Italian ice skating world is in an emergency as the possibility that Ariana Fontana (32), a living ‘legend’ of Italian short track speed skating, can naturalize as a US citizen has been raised.
Fontana said on his social network service (SNS) on the 25th (local time), “I am leaving Salt Lake City to put on my skates again and explore new options.” “I know how the USA can help me on my Olympic journey. I went to see it,” he said.
Fontana expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Italian Skating Federation. “Unfortunately, there has been no constructive dialogue with the Italian Skating Federation since April of last year,” he said. “They targeted me during training. This was unacceptable,” he said.
Furthermore, Fontana added a meaningful statement, saying, “I have an important decision ahead,” and “all cards are on the table.”
Italy’s Ariana Fontana shares joy with her family after winning the women’s 500m short track final at the Beijing Capital Indoor Stadium on the afternoon of the 7th, the third day of the opening of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. 2022.2.7/News1 ⓒ News1 Fontana is a signboard of Italian short track speed skating, which won gold in the 500m and silver in the 1500m at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. He is a legend who collected 11 medals (2 gold, 4 silver, 5 bronze) in the Olympics alone.
Fontana first competed at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics as a 16-year-old and has competed in four Olympic Games, becoming the all-time Olympic medalist in short track speed skating.
Fontana, who is considered the best female short track skater along with Choi Min-jung of Korea and Susan Schulting of the Netherlands, but continued to talk behind the scenes due to a disagreement with the Italian Skating Federation.
At the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, Fontana had a conflict with her country’s skating federation over having her American husband, Anthony Robello, as her personal coach.
After winning the 500m gold medal at last year’s Beijing Games, Fontana openly expressed her dissatisfaction, saying, “The federation didn’t appreciate having my husband as my coach.”
He then expressed anger, saying, “The officials I met on the spot did not greet me or congratulate me.”
In the meantime, controversy grew when Fontana hinted at the possibility that he could compete in other nationalities ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics to be held in his country.
The Italian media’La Repubblica’ predicted that day, “There is a possibility that Fontana will wear another country’s uniform at the 2026 Olympics.”
Italian media ‘AGI’ also said, “Fontana has been living in Salt Lake City, USA with her husband for the past few months.”
Fontana’s explosive remarks put the Italian ice world on alert. An official from the Italian Ice Skating Federation said, “Fontana is a player representing Italian sports,” and “we will try to prevent him from leaving Italy.”
(Seoul = News 1)