Love, strife and strife: Arianna Fontana in the crosshairs

Where is the best place to start in this chaos? Hurt pride, envy, resentment – given the sharply cooled relationship between Fontana and the FISG, this list could well be longer. The crux of this actually successful collaboration is the fact that Fontana's partner Anthony Lobello is her trainer. A circumstance that really displeases the FISG.

According to reports, after her first Olympic victory in PyeongChang, there was a break between the athlete, who has now become a legend, and the association. Because of the differences of opinion, Fontana and Lobello moved to Hungary and trained there in isolation from the other Italian short trackers.

When the Azzurra finally returned last year to prepare for the Olympics with the relay team, she received an icy reception. “I wasn’t welcome. It wasn't a good environment for me. There are some big issues that are obviously not me and my coach,” she explained. A kiss as a provocation But as in previous years, the 31-year-old didn't let the evil looks from her compatriots stop her. After her gold medal in the 500 meters in Beijing, she rushed straight to her husband and kissed him in front of the cameras. An action that was definitely understood as a provocation against the association. “With this gold medal we have proven that he is the best possible coach,” she emphasized. She then dropped a bombshell. Fontana and Lobello in Beijing. © ANSA / FAZRY ISMAIL

According to their statements, the FISG tried to prevent the most successful short tracker in Italian history from taking part in the Olympic Games. “There were people who didn’t want me here at the Olympics. My association didn't support me. They didn't want me to have my husband as a coach. In fact, they tried to find ways for us not to be here at all,” she clarified. “There were people who didn’t want me here at the Olympics.” Ariadne Fontana After her golden triumph, no one from the association approached her. No congratulations, no hugs. Officials she met in the hallway didn't even congratulate her. She doesn't want to have to endure this tension and mental pressure for much longer. Therefore, she gave the FISG an unofficial ultimatum for the upcoming Winter Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo in 2026. "If things don't change, I won't go through this again." FISG shoots back: “We have rules” In view of this public mudslinging, the ice sports association doesn't want to appear as the bad guy. “As an association, we have nothing to blame ourselves for. We acted with the greatest care, in our interests and those of Arianna,” said Andrea Gios, President of the FISG. “But we have rules.” It's an ice age for the Azzurri. © APA/afp / MANAN VATSYAYANA

Accordingly, no athlete is allowed to decide on their coaches and claim them as their own. “Our goal is to help all athletes grow.” To the allegations that Fontana had been prevented from taking part in the Olympics, he replied matter-of-factly: “We covered all the costs for Arianna's preparation in these three years.” Then she did decided to move to Hungary. In his opinion, there would have been no exclusion if they returned. “Lobello was simply not the technical director of the national team, so he had limitations.”

And that's the crux of the matter. “We don’t think Lobello has what it takes to coach the entire national short track team. We have 18 other athletes. “It’s not just Arianna,” Gios continued. In view of this statement, the association does not seem to want to budge from its position in the future. In the end, he doesn't have to, especially since the other Azzurri can also compete at the front. There is therefore no improvement in sight for the icy relationship between the two parties. The fronts are still hardened – and will probably remain so.

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Love, strife and strife: Arianna Fontana in the crosshairs

With a total of eleven Olympic medals, Arianna Fontana became the most successful short track athlete of all time. But behind the facade of success there is a lot of trouble. A profound conflict is simmering between the two-time Olympic champion and the ice sports association FISG.

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