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To the delight of an ecstatic home crowd, Italy prevailed and struck gold in the thrilling Mixed Relay as the Short Track competition at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 kicked off on Tuesday. 

Italy golden on home ice

Led by the legendary Arianna Fontana, Italy came out on top in a thrilling Mixed Relay where favorites tumbled. Canada earned the silver and surprise finalists Belgium skated off with bronze. 

China led early into the race but with six laps to go, Italy, who advanced easily to the Final, pulled ahead and never relinquished the lead. On the last meters, Canadian star William Dandjinou got closer and closer, but could not overtake Pietro Sighel, the final Italian racer. As he crossed the finish line, Sighel celebrated by turning around and greeting the fans in the packed Milano Ice Skating Arena. 

Pietro Sighel held off the challenge of William Dandjinou (CAN) to win the gold for Italy © Getty Images

China fell back and Belgium had the edge to grab the bronze. 

Following their silver in Beijing in the Mixed Relay, Italy now have the title and Short Track queen Fontana added a 12^th Olympic medal and third gold to her impressive collection. Elisa Confortola, Chiara Betti, Thomas Nadalini, Pietro Sighel and Luca Spechenhauser raced with Fontana to gold. 

“Today was a perfect way to start these Olympic Games at home with our families and friends in the stands, cheering for us,” Fontana said. “We started calm and collected and we believed in ourselves.” 

Fontana made her debut on the Olympic stage in 2006 at the Games in Turin and has been on the podium in each of her six appearances. 

“To win a medal in my sixth Olympic Games is a bit unreal. At my first Olympic Games in 2006, I never thought I was going to be here at the highest level. To be here and bring home another gold medal means a lot,” the 35-year-old Italian shared.

Canada celebrated their first medal in the Mixed Relay after coming sixth in the inaugural event four years ago. 

Canada claimed the silver medal in Tuesday's Mixed Relay in Milan © Getty Images

“My team put me in a great position to finish,” Dandjinou commented. “I was a little bit far and Pietro [Sighel] was obviously very fast. I did my best, but the Italians did an amazing race. Being third on the line, being able to finish second is a real pleasure. I think we all did our job today.”

Belgium, led by 2022 Olympic 1000m bronze medalist Hanne Desmet, earned their second Olympic Short Track medal. They had not even participated in the event in Beijing. 

“It's a big day,” Desmet said. “It's a lot of starts, starting with the 500m (heats) and then training some relays. But I think after the first round of the game, we were solid, we got this. In our semi-final, I felt like we were good enough to qualify there. The other team fell, so it was unfortunate for them, but really easy for us. I do think that Stan [Desmet, her brother]  would make some magic happen in the end there, so I was super excited to watch that.”

The 2022 Olympic Champions, China, finished fourth. 

The Netherlands suffered a fall in the semi-finals but rebounded to set a new Olympic Record in the B Final © Getty Images

The Netherlands, one of the favored teams, were only in the B Final after a fall in the semis but set a new Olympic Record with 2:35.537. 

“Since the B Final went well, it helps us to regroup for the individual events,” Michelle Velzeboer said.

The Republic of Korea’s star-studded team missed the A Final as well due to a crash in the semis.

Fontana, Hwang advance while other favorites crash out in 500m and 1000m heats

In the Women’s 500m heats, defending Olympic Champion Fontana (ITA), 2022 Olympic bronze medalist Kim Boutin (CAN) and World Record holder Xandra Velzeboer (NED) advanced safely to the quarter-finals.

2022 Olympic bronze medalist Liu Shaoang (CHN), World and Olympic Record holder Hwang Daeheon (KOR) and exciting newcomer Rim Jongun (KOR) qualified easily for the next phase, too. 

Medal hopeful Corinne Stoddard (USA) had a terrible day when she crashed out in the 500m heat and then fell again in the Mixed Relay quarter-final and semi-final. 

Two-time Olympic medalist Steven Dubois (CAN) tumbled in his 1000m heat and did not advance to the quarters either. He managed to regroup quickly to win the silver with the Mixed Relay team.

Rim Jongun (KOR) demonstrated his prowess on Tuesday in Milan © Getty Images

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