Italy Stuns Olympic Champions Sweden 7-6 in Men's Curling Opener

Italy's men's curling team delivered a stunning upset on the opening day of Milano Cortina 2026, defeating reigning Olympic champions Sweden 7-6.

The Italian quartet of Joel Retornaz, Amos Mosaner, Mattia Giovanella, and Sebastiano Arman produced a thrilling performance to edge past the heavily favored Swedish team in a nail-biting finish. The narrow one-point victory marks an impressive start to Italy's Olympic campaign on home ice.

Sweden entered the tournament as defending Olympic gold medalists, having claimed the title at Beijing 2022. Their reputation as one of the sport's powerhouses made Italy's victory all the more significant, particularly given the pressure of competing at a home Olympics.

Home Ice Advantage for Italy

The Italian team, featuring Olympic bronze medalist Amos Mosaner from the mixed doubles event in Beijing, showed composure and precision throughout the match. Competing in front of a home crowd at Milano Cortina 2026 clearly provided additional motivation for the squad.

Skip Joel Retornaz led his team with tactical acumen, while the experience of Mosaner proved invaluable in the crucial moments. Mattia Giovanella and Sebastiano Arman completed the lineup, each contributing to the team's cohesive performance against one of curling's elite nations.

Statement Victory in Olympic Curling

The 7-6 scoreline reflects just how tight the contest was, with both teams trading points throughout. For Italy to emerge victorious in such a closely contested match against the reigning champions sends a clear message to the rest of the field that they are genuine medal contenders.

This opening victory provides crucial momentum for Italy's men's curling team as they continue their campaign at Milano Cortina 2026. With home support behind them and confidence boosted by this landmark win, the Italian squad will look to build on this result in their upcoming matches.