Winter Olympics legend Arianna Fontana reveals Italian officials’ bitter response to golden kiss

When so many around her were crashing or getting penalised, Arianna Fontana kept her cool.

Just getting to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics had been hard enough. Winning her 10th career medal in short track speedskating may have seemed easy by comparison.

Watch the emotional celebrations in the video above

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The 31-year-old Italian made a bold pass late to take the lead in the 500m final, skating to victory against world champion Suzanne Schulting of the Netherlands and world-record holder Kim Boutin of Canada.

Fontana was already the most decorated short track skater in Olympic history, having helped Italy win silver in the new mixed team relay two days earlier.

Fontana shared a rink-side kiss with her coach and American husband Anthony Lobello Jr in celebration.

That the couple was in Beijing was a victory, too.

“Me and my family had to go through a bad situation, people that didn’t want me here. My federation wasn’t supportive,” Fontana said.

“They didn’t want me having my husband as a coach, but today we proved he was the best possible coach.

“They didn’t help; in fact, they tried to find ways that we wouldn’t be here at all. It was tough.”

Fontana said Italian federation officials passed her in the hallway after her victory on Monday and didn’t offer congratulations.

“I wasn’t looking for them to come up to me,” she said.

“It’s actually better if they stay away.”

Fontana won 500m gold four years ago in PyeongChang, but she said it was made clear by Italian skating officials and the national coaching staff that Lobello wasn’t welcome as her coach.

She took a year’s break after the 2018 Olympics, leaving Italy and relocating to