Martina VALCEPINA

MOTHERHOOD
Discoverd she was pregnant at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. "I was in the Olympic Village with many people around but no one who knew anything. I only talked about it with the doctor who gave me the test. I have to say I went into crisis, I was far from home, I was only 21 and I felt alone. But, after signing a sheet where I took my responsibilities, I went out on the track and won a medal in the relay, you can imagine what a thrill. Mamma mia, I still shiver today."

After the Games she decided to take a two-year break from the sport to focus on being a mother. "I felt I couldn't be both a mother and an athlete, but I soon felt attracted to the sport again, and as my daughters got older, and with the help of my family, I gradually returned to full-time training. All of this would not be possible without my family's help. Giving birth has taken away my anxieties, insecurities, agitation and timidity of the past. I've learnt to control my emotions more, and I have surprised myself with this new level of focus." (varesenews.it, 10 Jun 2019; sportface.it, 26 Jan 2018; ricerca.repubblica.it, 14 Jan 2018)

RIVAL'S PASSING
Struggled with the death of short track rival, Lara van Ruijven (NED), who passed away from an autoimmune disease in July 2020. “The news from Lara really shocked me a lot. She was one of my first rivals right from the start. We won a medal for the first time together at the Junior World Championships in Courmayeur (2011). Since that time, we have alternated in several World Cup finals. I remember her as a really kind and sunny person. She was always there and ready to compliment the winner every time she was defeated." (oasport.it, 27 Nov 2020)

STOLEN BIKE
Her 5000 euro racing bike, which she used for training, was stolen while she was on holiday in Liguria, Italy, in July 2019. Local police located the thief and returned the bike six months later. (ilgiorno.it, 12 Jan 2020)

HOME OLYMPICS
Would like to compete at her fifth Olympic Winter Games at Milano-Cortina 2026. "Honestly, I haven't thought about it yet because I would be 34. Surely it is a goal that you put in your head. Getting to close your career with an Olympics at home would be the dream of many athletes. It would be really beautiful. I still don't know how it will go, because I will have to understand the management of the girls. Until this year they went to kindergarten and therefore could skip even more days, but then elementary schools will begin. I'll try to organize myself and I hope to be there." (oasport.it, 3 May 2020)

© Data by Sports Data Warehouse

OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Four-time Olympian, winning three medals. Second for most short track medals from an Italian female skater (both part of the Sochi 2014 bronze and PyeongChang 2018 silver medal relay teams). Arianna Fontana tops the list with nine (also part of same relay teams).

Youngest Italian athlete at Vancouver 2010 (17 years 254 days), making her the third-youngest Italian to compete in short track speed skating, behind Arianna Fontana (15 years 304 days) and Barbara Baldissera (16 years 41 days). Youngest female short track speed skater at Vancouver, and third youngest overall, after Aidar Bekzhanov (KAZ) and Liang Wenhao (CHN).

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Won her only World Championship medal in 2021 (relay bronze), after three fourth-place finishes and five fifths (2x 500m, 6x relay).

Five appearances at the World Junior Championships (2007-11), finishing third overall in Courmayeur (2011), after winning the 500m. Added two gold (2009, 2011) and a silver (2008) as part of the relay team.

WORLD CUP
Finished on the World Cup podium 34-times, but only in the 500m and relay. Won the 500m four times, including winng three straight races in 2019, and has finished second or third another 15 times. Best result in another distance is 11th (Dresden 2019 - 1500m).

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
Two-time European champion in the 500m (2011, 2018), finishing in the top-two every year from 2017 to 2020. Disqualified in the 2021 final after a false start and a first turn push on Natalia Maliszewska (POL). Fifteen European Championship medals (four gold), finishing second overall in 2020, and third overall (2011, 2012, 2020).