Marinella Canclini

Marinella Canclini was one of the best Italian short track speed skaters. She was a member of the military group, Grupo Sportivo Forestale, and between 1992-99 won eight Italian titles. An all-rounder in the 500, 1,000, and 1,500 metre distances, she débuted with the National team in 1989, and went on to take part in four editions of the Winter Olympics (1992, 1994, 1998, 2002) but failed to win a medal. However, in one of her heats in the 500 in 1992, she set an Olympic record of 47.00. At the Den Haag World Championships in 1996, Canclini won gold in the 1,000 metres and relay, and bronze in the 500. She won the 500 bronze again at both the 1997 and 1998 Worlds. Received in 1996 the _Collare d’Oro_r for Sporting Merit from the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI).

Canclini won both individual and relay gold medals at each of the first three editions of the European Short Track Championships in 1997, 1998 and 1999, and at Obersdorf in 1999 she established a 500 metre world record of 44.62. Canclini quit the sport in 2000 but made a comeback before finally retiring for good after the 2002 Olympics.