Italy’s Arianna Fontana defends gold in 500m Short Track

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Arianna Fontana of Team Italy celebrates winning the Gold medal during the Women's 500m Final A on day three of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Capital Indoor Stadium on February 07, 2022 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Italy’s Arianna Fontana extended her speedskating reign, defending her gold medal in the 500m short track event Monday at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

The 31-year-old finished with a time of 42.488, beating Suzanne Schulting of The Netherlands by .71 seconds.

Fontana’s 500m performance marks her tenth Olympic medal, with her silver in short track mixed team relay Saturday making the Italian the most decorated short track speedskater in Olympic history.

Canada’s Kim Boutin rounded out the 500m podium, earning bronze, while Americans Maame Biney and Kristen Santos were eliminated after the quarterfinals.