Ambitions have changed for Italy’s Short Track speed skaters. While the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games medal haul of one gold, two silvers and a bronze was mightily impressive, the 2026 cohort want a whole lot more. 

Boasting a threat in just about every distance, the team in blue have an unprecedented depth. And perhaps no one epitomizes this more clearly than Thomas Nadalini (main picture). Not only did the 23-year-old follow up a series of A final appearances with a first ever ISU Short Track World Tour medal – silver in the 1500m in Gdańsk, Poland – he did it in such style that he had the undisputed men’s No.1 purring in admiration. 

“To me, Thomas has always been a threat. I study the sport and I have seen him come up. I’m not surprised with the results he’s had and I’m sure we will see more of him,” Canadian William Dandjinou said, after pipping his new rival to gold in that 1500m. 

Silver medalist Thomas Nadalini (ITA) after the men’s 1500m at the ISU Short Track World Tour in Gdansk, Poland © ISU

‘Like Wu Dajing’

Nadalini’s teammate, the highly decorated Pietro Sighel, knows just what Dandjinou is talking about.

“I have always thought Thomas skates like (China’s double Olympic champion) Wu Dajing,” said Sighel, who finished third in that Gdańsk 1500m. “Wu Dajing skated in front, had a lot of power and long legs. He (Nadalini) can do easy fast laps like Wu Dajing did in the best moments of his career. In my mind, Thomas has similar potential.” 

It is quite a compliment. 

“I know all my teammates are really strong but sometimes it’s not easy to do races like you do training. I knew from the first day Thomas is really strong,” Sighel said. “But everyone has their time to arrive.” 

Wu Dajing (CHN) after winning gold in the men's 500m at the 2021 ISU World Cup Short Track in Dordrecht, Netherlands © ISU

That is, of course, the key – for Nadalini and all his fellow teammates embarking on what is normally a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Alongside the likes of rising female stars Elisa Confortola and Chiara Betti, Nadalini appears to be timing his run to perfection. 

 “The main thing for me is that I could finally express myself,” Nadalini said of his 1500m silver, which came alongside four other top-five finishes in individual races at the recently concluded 2025/26 ISU Short Track World Tour. 

“Trusting myself was the key. I started trusting myself more, that’s where something switched on inside me between the first two World Tours (in Montreal) and the third (in Gdańsk). I was saying that I was trying some trusting myself, and I thought I was trusting myself, but at some point I realized I was just saying that, but I didn’t really believe it. But when I started to believe in it for real, I saw a big change.” 

Ready: Pietro Sighel (ITA) at the ISU Short Track World Tour in Gdansk, Poland © ISU

‘Trying not to get scared’

Nadalini’s emergence as one to watch is huge for Italy. Put that alongside Sighel, the current world No.2 and a six-time individual world championship medalist, and the men’s team rivals a women’s outfit that boasts the great Arianna Fontana, who is going for her 12th Olympic medal at her sixth Games, 20 years after winning her first at Torino 2006. 

It is no wonder the Milano Ice Skating Arena is expected to be a constant sellout. 

“I'm trying to avoid thinking about it, just not to get scared,” Nadalini laughed. “He (Sighel) knows better than me because he already participated in one Olympic Games so he knows how to handle it better. I am trying to just keep it easy, like a normal race, but I know that is not going to be like that.” 

Sighel, who was part of the men’s relay and mixed relay teams that won bronze and silver respectively in Beijing in 2022, does have some advice for his younger friend. 

“For sure, the Olympic Village is beautiful and a big moment for athletes to enjoy, but it can be a distraction for your focus,” Sighel warned. “Everything is good and nice and beautiful, but we are there for the races, and it’s important to stay focused and use the Olympic Village and everything around the Olympics to work for you.” 

‘They’ve got to be scared.’

Sighel loved the relay success four years ago but he wants some individual glory this time around, and Nadalini is convinced he can get it. 

“We call him Gatto because cats have a lot of agility and you never know what his next move is going to be,” Nadalini said, with a smile. 

The 26-year-old Sighel will need all that agility and more to get the better of the powerful Dandjinou on the biggest stage of all. The good news is Nadalini – who, like Dandjinou, towers over most of his competitors – provides the perfect opposition in training. 

“People used to say Short Track is for short people but we are changing the game a little bit,” Nadalini said. “Short and tall people can fight. For sure, it’s going to be hard doing passes like Pietro but it’s for everyone.” 

That can only help a team that Sighel firmly believes is on the rise. 

“We’re getting stronger, not just looking at results but tactically, physically and mentally,” he said. 

“We are showing that we are there at the top. Maybe in the past seasons we’re not really getting considered in the individual races but now we have shown them that we are there. 

“They’ve got to be scared.”