As the 2026 Winter Olympics unfold in Milano Cortina, all eyes are on local hero Stefania Constantini. The 26-year-old curler, who famously transitioned from a retail clerk at a North Face store to an Olympic champion, is currently the face of Italy’s gold medal hopes on her home ice in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Defending the Crown: A Historic Run
Constantini enters the 2026 Games as the reigning Olympic and World Champion in mixed doubles. Alongside partner Amos Mosaner, she secured Italy’s first-ever curling gold medal at the Beijing 2022 Games with a perfect 11-0 record. The duo solidified their dominance in May 2025 by capturing the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship title in a 9-4 victory over Scotland.
However, the road to a repeat gold has already faced its first major hurdle. On February 05 2026, Italy’s remarkable 23-game winning streak—which spanned the Beijing Olympics and the 2025 World Championships—was snapped by Canada in a 7-2 round-robin loss. Despite this setback, the Italian pair remains a top contender for the podium.
Latest Updates from the 2026 Games
As of Monday, February 09 2026, Constantini has demonstrated the “clutch gene” that made her a household name. In a high-stakes round-robin match against the United States, Constantini delivered a precise final takeout on the hammer to secure a 7-6 victory over Americans Korey Dropkin and Cory Thiesse. This win helped Italy finish the round-robin phase with a strong 6-3 record, keeping their medal hopes alive in front of a raucous home crowd.
The “Darling of Cortina”
Born on April 15 1999, in Pieve di Cadore, Constantini grew up in Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of the host hubs for the 2026 Games. Her rise to stardom has revitalized Italian interest in curling, a sport previously overshadowed by alpine skiing and bobsledding in the region. Beyond mixed doubles, Constantini also serves as the skip for the Italian National Women’s Curling Team, showcasing her versatility and leadership on the ice.
Career Highlights and Achievements:
- 2022 Beijing Olympics: Gold Medal (Mixed Doubles)
- 2025 World Championships: Gold Medal (Mixed Doubles)
- 2023 European Championships: Silver Medal
- 2017 European Championships: Bronze Medal
With the mixed doubles playoffs approaching, the pressure is mounting on the “high-ponytailed” star. For Constantini, these Games are more than just a title defense; they are a homecoming. As she continues to throw rocks in the historic Cortina stadium, she carries the expectations of a nation that has truly fallen in love with curling.