Dresden / Germany

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Ariana Fontana (ITA) won the Ladies 1000m at the ISU European Short Track Speed Skating 2018 in Dresden after a thrilling duel with Suzanne Schulting (NED).

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Six-time European champion Fontana prevailed in a photo finish after a fast and tactical contest.

The race also generated the best atmosphere of the weekend at the EnergieVerbund Arena, thanks to the presence in the final of Dresden-born Anna Seidel (GER) who learned her craft on this ice. She took the bronze medal, much to the crowd’s delight. 

Fontana’s win was some compensation for Saturday’s races: she had crashed in the 1500m final, and only just stayed on her feet over cracked ice to take silver in the 500m.

“I didn’t fall over, so that was a good step!” she said afterwards. “This weekend has been a good test as to how I was feeling on the ice as we get close to the Olympics. I’m not at 100 per cent yet.

“I wasn’t disappointed yesterday. The 1500m I thought I was going to win but then I crashed - but I wasn’t upset because I’d done a good race.

“In the 500m I was trying to pass, but the ice cracked. I just stayed on my feet and I was happy with silver. And I was pleased with this race.”

Lara van Ruijven won the B final.