Italy short track team heads to Vancouver World Tour without Fontana and Sighel

The 2026-27 short track World Tour begins in Vancouver, Canada, from October 23 to 25, marking the start of a seven-stage international circuit. The Italian national team will compete at the Pacific Coliseum during a period of transition, as the squad will be missing two of its most prominent figures: Arianna Fontana and Pietro Sighel.

Fontana, the discipline's most decorated champion, has opted to take a break from the first two stages of the tour. Sighel is also absent following a delayed preparation period after a demanding season of Olympic, World, and European competitions.

With the veteran leaders sidelined, attention shifts to Thomas Nadalini and Elisa Confortola as the primary contenders for the Italian team. The roster also includes Chiara Betti, Margherita Betti, Gloria Ioriatti, Mattia Antonioli, Pietro Marinelli, Davide Oss Chemper, Lorenzo Previtali, and Luca Spechenhauser. The event serves as a critical test for the team's depth and physical conditioning ahead of future international competitions.