SHORT TRACK
Short Track: The oldest and the youngest on the Milano ice
02 Feb 2026
The oldest athlete to race in Short Track at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 needs no introduction: Arianna Fontana (ITA).
The Italian legend and flag bearer for her country at the opening ceremony was born in April 1990, and her longevity as a racer is part of the 35-year-old’s fame.
She made her debut at the Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games, aged 15, competing in relay and winning a bronze, and has gone on to have one of the most storied careers in Short Track.
Among the highlights? Two back-to-back gold medals in the 500m at the last two Olympics, and becoming her country’s most-decorated Winter Olympian, with a total of 11 medals.
She will be desperate to add to that tally on home ice in Milano, and she hasn’t ruled out competing at the next Games, either.
Lea Popovicova, 18, will represent Slovakia in Milan © ISU
The youngest athlete to compete is Lea Popovicova (SVK), who is just 18.
The racer from Presov has had a decent junior career – she was 15th in the women’s 1500m at the Gangwon 2024 Youth Olympic Games, and this season stepped things up impressively, consistently finishing within the top 40 at ISU World Tour level.
Finishing 28th in a 1500m in Montreal and 27th in the 500m in Dordrecht meant the Slovak secured just enough points to book a ticket to Milano.
Watanabe Keita is the oldest man in Short Track in Milan © ISU
The oldest man on the ice is Watanabe Keita (JPN), two years Fontana’s junior. Watanabe has had a highly respectable career, making his debut on the ISU senior circuit in 2010.
He has made plenty of top tens and a handful of podiums, including a World Championship bronze in the men’s 5000m relay in 2018. He is at his second Olympics, having also skated at PyeongChang 2018.
Korean youngster Rim Jongun has impressed in the early stages of his career © ISU
The youngest man in the Short Track pack is Rim Jongun (KOR). Born just a couple of months earlier than Popovicova, Rim had a sensational junior career – and made an equally big impact in his debut senior season, 2025/26.
Rim blasted to gold at his first ever senior event, the 1500m in Montreal, when he was still 17. He’s since added another ISU World Tour gold, in the 1000m in Dordrecht.
A real shot at Olympic glory awaits, with Short Track’s powerhouse nation, Republic of Korea, putting many of their hopes on this Games debutant’s shoulders.
For more information about Short Track in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, please check here
