Italy’s Men’s Curling Team Eliminated from Semifinal Contention: “We Are Disappointed”
Cortina d’Ampezzo – Italy’s hopes for a medal in men’s curling at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics came to an end Thursday, February 19, as they fell to an undefeated Switzerland team 9-5 in their final round-robin match. The loss eliminates Joel Retornaz, Amos Mosaner, Sebastiano Arman, and Mattia Giovanella from contention for a semifinal berth. With the women’s team already out of the competition, the Italian curling contingent’s run at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium is now complete.
“At this moment, we are disappointed not to have achieved an objective that was within reach on the eve of the tournament, but when you come here and compete against all the international powerhouses, it’s not easy,” said Retornaz, skip and a veteran of the team since the 2006 Turin Olympics. “We tried until the end, even today against Switzerland, but it didn’t work out.”
Switzerland finished the round robin with a perfect 9-0 record, solidifying their status as a strong favorite to win the gold medal. Canada, Norway, and Great Britain also advanced to the semifinals. Italy finished sixth in the standings.
Despite the disappointing result, Retornaz emphasized the positive impact the team’s performance had on the sport’s popularity in Italy. “We felt the support of the public here at home, and also from those who weren’t present. The whole nation has started to appreciate this sport a little more, and that is definitely something positive that must be maintained for the growth of curling in Italy.”
Amos Mosaner echoed the sentiment, noting that the mixed doubles team’s bronze medal was “a truly important medal for us and for our sport, especially as it confirmed Italian curling at a high level.” He added, “We had the quality to compete in a playoff with the men’s team, but we had several opportunities during the week and didn’t capitalize on them. Sport also reserves that – you have to be able to accept defeats and move on.”
