标签： Europe

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO (AP) — Amidst four simultaneous curling matches at the Cortina stadium, all local attention remains intensely focused on defending gold medalist Stefania Constantini. The 26-year-old native, distinguished by her high ponytail, has become the center of an electrifying atmosphere as she battles for advancement in the competition.

The arena resonates with overwhelming Italian support as fans chant “Italia, Italia, Italia!” with such fervor that they drown out contingents from top curling nations like the United States and Great Britain. Spectators rhythmically pound the wooden barristers, creating reverberations that echo throughout the venue. A subtle gesture from Constantini triggers explosive cheers from the passionate crowd.

Constantini’s journey began in this picturesque Tyrolean town, where she trained on courts nestled between the dramatic peaks of the Dolomites. Her historic gold medal performance with partner Amos Mosaner at Beijing 2022 positioned these Games as her opportunity to establish Italian dominance in the sport. However, recent setbacks against Sweden on Saturday and Canada the previous day have placed the duo outside the top four standings, requiring flawless performance in upcoming matches to secure playoff qualification.

“Today we struggled somewhat to adapt from yesterday’s games to today’s conditions,” Constantini acknowledged post-match. Mosaner concurred, stating, “We must reset, avoid previous errors, and deliver our optimal performance tonight to position ourselves favorably for tomorrow.”

Before her Olympic triumph, Constantini maintained employment as a sales associate at The North Face store on Corso Italia, a position she held until just one month before the Beijing Games. Their success has sparked unprecedented interest in curling throughout Italy, particularly in Cortina, which stands as the nation’s historical cradle for the sport. Notably, Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi, a former national team member and son of Italian curling’s founding father, underscores the town’s deep connection to the game.

Despite mounting pressure, both athletes maintain that the high-stakes environment enhances rather than hinders their performance. “The crowd support is special and genuinely uplifting during competition,” Constantini remarked.

The team faces crucial matches against Norway later Saturday, with subsequent games against Czechia and Great Britain scheduled for Sunday. Italian supporter Carla Pelosin, who traveled from Noale with the national flag painted on her face, expressed confidence: “They appeared slightly nervous today, but we maintain full belief in their capabilities for the coming matches. My message would be simply to give their utmost effort—the Italian people trust and believe in them completely.”

In a spectacular display of athletic prowess and national pride, Italian speedskater Francesca Lollobrigida secured host nation Italy’s inaugural gold medal at the Milan Cortina Games with a record-breaking performance in the women’s 3,000 meters event on Saturday. The veteran athlete achieved this milestone on her 35th birthday, delivering an unforgettable moment for the roaring home crowd that rose to their feet in celebration.

Lollobrigida completed the race in an Olympic record time of 3 minutes, 54.28 seconds, finishing more than two seconds ahead of Norwegian contender Ragne Wiklund who claimed silver. Canadian skater Valerie Maltais rounded out the podium with a bronze medal performance.

The victory holds particular significance as it represents not only Lollobrigida’s first Olympic gold but also marks the first time an Italian woman has triumphed in speedskating at the Winter Games. The accomplished athlete, who balances motherhood with elite competition as parent to a two-year-old son, previously earned two medals at the Beijing Games four years ago—silver in the 3,000 meters and bronze in the mass start event.

Hailing from Frascati, a picturesque hill town near Rome renowned for its white wine production, Lollobrigida carries a legacy of Italian excellence—her great aunt was the legendary 1950s and 60s film star Gina Lollobrigida.

The emotional weight of the moment was palpable throughout the competition. During pre-race introductions, Lollobrigida received thunderous applause from patriotic spectators, responding with an enthusiastic smile and dual-arm wave before placing her hands over her heart in gratitude. Though initially trailing behind Maltais at the first checkpoint, the Italian champion steadily gained momentum, seemingly propelled by the vocal support from her compatriots, and delivered a powerful final lap with her arms swinging rhythmically behind her.

Lollobrigida’s record-shattering time surpassed the previous Olympic benchmark set by Irene Schouten at the 2022 Beijing Games by an impressive 2.5 seconds. As subsequent skaters took to the ice, the emotional champion frequently covered her eyes with her hands, unable to watch the remaining competition that would determine her final standing.

In a dramatic Six Nations showdown at Rome’s rain-drenched Stadio Olimpico, Italy secured a monumental 18-15 victory against Scotland on Saturday, showcasing exceptional defensive resilience in the closing moments. The match culminated in a heart-stopping finale as Scotland mounted a 30-phase offensive assault that ultimately collapsed under Italy’s determined last-line defense.

The Italian squad demonstrated remarkable tactical maturity from the opening whistle, establishing an early 12-0 advantage before torrential downpours transformed the pitch into a challenging aquatic battlefield. Despite Scotland’s attempts to capitalize on the adverse conditions, Italy maintained composure under pressure.

Captain Michele Lamaro epitomized the team’s spirit, declaring post-match: ‘Absolutely incredible. The final defensive sequence demonstrates our profound commitment to each other, this jersey, and our nation. This performance truly represents our identity.’

Italy’s strategic brilliance manifested through two first-half tries that exposed Scotland’s reconfigured back-three defense. Wing Louis Lynagh and center Tommaso Menoncello executed perfectly coordinated attacks, with fly-half Paolo Garbisi contributing crucial kicks despite some missed opportunities.

Scotland’s challenges multiplied through persistent lineout malfunctions, losing five throws throughout the contest. Discipline further undermined their efforts, with hooker Ewan Ashman’s high tackle and George Turner’s yellow card compounding their difficulties.

The visitors displayed late resurgence with Jack Dempsey’s first-half try and George Horne’s second-half score, narrowing the deficit to three points with twelve minutes remaining. However, Italy’s impregnable defense in the final moments secured their seventeenth Six Nations victory and ninth against Scotland.

This triumph positions Italy to potentially avoid the tournament’s wooden spoon for an unprecedented third consecutive year, while Scotland faces urgent reassessment before hosting England next weekend.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — The Olympic curling arena witnessed a dramatic power shift on Saturday as Great Britain’s Bruce Mouat and Jennifer Dodds delivered a decisive blow to Canadian veterans Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman. The match, characterized by Britain’s aggressive stone placement that systematically dismantled Canada’s strategic formations, represents more than just a round-robin defeat—it symbolizes the complete transformation of international curling competitiveness.

This marked Canada’s second consecutive loss in the mixed doubles tournament, following an earlier defeat by the United States team. The back-to-back setbacks highlight the erosion of Canada’s historical dominance in a sport it once commanded. Olympic observers now recognize that the competitive landscape has undergone fundamental changes through recent Olympic cycles, with multiple nations developing world-class training programs.

Devin Heroux, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s seasoned curling analyst, noted: “This outcome perfectly illustrates curling’s current global state. Canada long operated under the assumption that it produced the world’s finest curlers. The reality now is that not only has the international community caught up—they’ve arguably surpassed us.”

Despite these losses, both teams remain likely to advance to the next round alongside the United States and Italy, with Britain now positioned strongly for qualification among the ten teams competing at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.

The British duo’s victory stems from years of dedicated training at Scotland’s National Curling Academy, established in 2017. Their partnership exemplifies the structured development programs that have produced formidable challengers to Canadian supremacy. Since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games—where Canada failed to medal in either four-person team event—the nation’s curling dominance has waned, managing only a single bronze across all disciplines in Beijing.

Post-match discussions revealed another critical factor: rapidly changing ice conditions at Cortina’s curling center. Athletes noted significant alterations from previous days, with ice playing “up to two seconds faster”—a substantial variation that forced tactical adjustments. Gallant employed an automotive analogy: “It’s like taking a Honda Civic down the highway then jumping into a Ferrari.” He emphasized that while challenging, the conditions didn’t excuse the loss: “The team that adjusts better gains the advantage. They adapted quicker than we did.”

His assessment was echoed by the victorious British pair. “We coped with it very well,” stated Dodds, while Mouat added: “We’re communicating effectively and now understand how the ice will behave for the remainder of the competition.”

Heroux concluded that adaptation to Cortina’s volatile ice conditions would ultimately determine which team claims gold, marking a new era where flexibility and rapid adjustment have become as crucial as traditional curling skills.