Italy's women's curling team for the upcoming Winter Olympics has ignited a row over alleged favouritism after selecting the technical director's daughter. Experienced player Angela Romei was surprisingly omitted, prompting criticism of the decision-making process. The Italian Ice Sports Federation insists the choice was based on technical merits.
The selection of Italy's women's curling squad for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics has drawn sharp criticism, centering on the inclusion of 19-year-old Rebecca Mariani, daughter of technical director Marco Mariani. Announced recently, the five-woman team includes Mariani as an alternate, despite her limited senior experience compared to omitted veteran Angela Romei.
Romei, who has been a mainstay in the national squad for years, voiced her frustration in an interview with Italian daily La Stampa. "If it had been a tactical decision, they could have tried it out much earlier and then weighed things up, explaining the reasons to those directly involved," she said. She highlighted the impersonal nature of the notification—a telephone call from Marco Mariani—adding, "I have always believed in human relationships and fair play both on and off the field of play, and what happened to me is the antithesis of all that."
The Italian Ice Sports Federation (FISG) defended the decision in a statement to Reuters, emphasizing its technical basis. "The choice made by the technical director, in consultation with the coaches of the individual national teams, is purely technical in nature, based on the performances of the individual players over the last year," it said. FISG noted that Rebecca Mariani's versatility allows her to fill any of the four team roles, providing greater flexibility than Romei, who specializes in one position.
Marco Mariani brings significant credentials to his role, having competed for Italy at the 2006 Turin Olympics and later coaching China's women's team before taking his current position in 2024. The Mariani family originates from Cortina d'Ampezzo, the host venue for the Olympic curling events. Rebecca Mariani has already gained exposure, competing at the 2024 World Youth Olympics and joining the senior team for three international tournaments this season.
Leading the squad is Stefania Constantini, who won gold in mixed doubles at the Beijing 2022 Olympics alongside Amos Mosaner. The controversy unfolds as Italy prepares to compete on home soil, highlighting tensions in athlete selection ahead of the Games.
