From James Bond to Olympic Gold: Cortina’s Storied Curling Legacy
December 9, 2025 – CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — Few Olympic host cities can claim such an intimate connection to curling as this picturesque town nestled in the Dolomites.
Cortina d’Ampezzo stands as home to Stefania Constantini, Italy’s inaugural Olympic curling champion who claimed mixed doubles gold at the 2022 Beijing Games. The town’s curling heritage runs even deeper: current Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi previously competed on Italy’s national curling squad and is the son of the individual who introduced the sport to Italy.
During a recent conversation with The Associated Press, Lorenzi acknowledged his preference for watching competitions over ceremonial duties. He indicated he’d secure daily attendance at the curling matches rather than focus solely on greeting dignitaries and government officials during the February 6-22 Milan Cortina Winter Games.
The venue itself carries remarkable history. The wooden structure that will host curling competitions served as the site for both opening and closing ceremonies during Cortina’s 1956 Winter Olympics. Film enthusiasts may recognize it from its appearance in the James Bond movie “For Your Eyes Only.”
According to Constantini, curling has become woven into the fabric of local life. “In Cortina, everybody (has) tried curling at least once,” she observed.
The sport’s significance extends through Constantini’s family as well. Her mother, Monica Dalus, serves on Cortina’s city council. Lorenzi noted that he and Dalus maintain regular communication to follow Constantini’s competitive performances.
Potential Flag Bearer
At 26 years old, Constantini represents a compelling candidate for one of Italy’s four flag-bearer positions during the opening ceremony’s Cortina segment. However, the young athlete expresses hesitation about accepting such recognition.
“I’m still at the start of my career and I’ve got many more goals that I want to achieve,” Constantini explained to the AP. She pointed to veteran athletes with longer track records of success as potentially more deserving candidates.
Nevertheless, Italian media outlets have speculated that Constantini and her Beijing gold medal partner Amos Mosaner might receive the honor together.
The Olympic opening ceremony features an unconventional split format. While the primary event takes place at Milan’s San Siro stadium on February 6, a concurrent celebration will occur in Cortina that evening. The International Olympic Committee granted Italy permission for four total flag bearers—one male and one female athlete at each location. Cortina will additionally host women’s Alpine skiing and sliding competitions during the games.
Constantini acknowledged the honor would be significant but confirmed no official notification has been received.
From Retail to the Podium
Until shortly before her Beijing triumph, Constantini maintained employment that many residents would recognize. She worked as a sales associate at The North Face retail location on Corso Italia, the town’s pedestrian shopping street, continuing until approximately one month before the Olympics.
“I had a double life back then,” Constantini recalled. She balanced her retail responsibilities with intensive training and Olympic qualification efforts.
Building on Success
Constantini’s Olympic victory marked a historic milestone for Cortina. She became the town’s first Olympic champion since bobsledder Eugenio Monti captured both two-man and four-man titles at the 1968 Grenoble Games. Monti’s legacy continues through Cortina’s sliding center, which bears his name despite some local controversy.
This year, Constantini and Mosaner reinforced their standing in mixed doubles curling by defeating Scotland—the sport’s birthplace—in the world championship final. Their continued dominance has established them as the premier pairing in the discipline.
Looking ahead to competing on home ice, Constantini expressed enthusiasm about the unique opportunity. “Competing at home in Cortina will be the cherry on top of the cake,” she said.
