Italian curling star Stefania Constantini delivered a clutch performance on Monday, securing a 7-6 victory over Team USA in curling's final round-robin match.
The win advanced the defending Olympic champions to the mixed doubles semifinals.
Born and raised in Cortina, Constantini partnered with Amos Mosaner to defend their 2022 gold medal in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. The duo competed at Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, the same venue where Constantini developed her skills.
The match turned in the fifth end, when Constantini executed a sharp double-takeout shot. She angled her final stone wide and hit another rock, sending it crashing into two US stones in the center. All US stones subsequently drifted out of the target, as Italy scored four crucial points to take a 6-2 lead.
Team USA then fought back, scoring two in the sixth end. They stole two more in the seventh after Constantini's draw shot floated past the button. The score was tied at 6-6 heading into the final end.
Constantini held her nerve with the last stone, delivering one final takeout on the hammer to secure the victory. The 26-year-old from Pieve di Cadore pumped her fist as the crowd erupted.
Constantini and Mosaner won all nine matches in Beijing, capturing Italy's first-ever Olympic curling gold medal.
Italy finished this year's round-robin play on a 5-3 record, advancing to the Winter Olympic semifinals as one of the top four teams. After topping the standings at 8-1, Great Britain now takes on Sweden in the competition's other semifinal.
How to watch Italian curler Stefania Constantini at the Winter Olympics
Constantini and Mosaner will face Team USA once again in today's curling semifinal, taking the ice today at 12:05 PM ET live on Peacock.
