In a stunning upset at the Winter Olympics, Italy, who had yet to win a game, defeated Team USA 7-2 in women’s curling on Monday. The victory snapped a three-game winning streak by the United States and left them with a 4-2 record in pool play with two games to go.
Italy, who entered the game with a 0-5 record, came out swinging, scoring three points in the first end to take a 3-0 lead. Italy’s skip, Stefania Constantini, jammed three stones into scoring position to take the early lead and put the USA on the defensive. Despite their experience and past success at the event, the USA was never able to get into a rhythm.
The USA was finally able to get on the board in the sixth end as Tabitha Peterson scored a single point to take a 4-1 lead. However, Italy was not done yet. By the ninth end, the lead was 7-2, and the USA was forced to concede the game, down by five points.
“We really fought out there, especially me,” Cory Thiesse said to NBC after the match. “I just never got a true feel on the ice, and it felt like we were chasing the whole match, unable to get all our shots to click.”
The United States team of Tabitha and Tara Peterson, Thiesse, and Taylor Anderson-Heide now turns its attention to its next match in the pool competition against Denmark. Despite the unexpected loss to Italy, the United States is not out of playoff contention. However, the loss also underscores the unpredictable nature of Olympic curling matches.
The win over the United States is historic for Italy’s Constantini and her team. Not only does it give them a huge morale boost, it also proves that no matter how winless a team has been in competition leading up to the Olympics, they can come out on top in an Olympic match against an elite competitor. Constantini and her team played with skill, wit, and determination. They reminded the world of curling that no match is over until the last stone is delivered.
As the women’s tournament continues in curling competition at the Winter Olympics, the world is waiting to see how the United States and Italy react to the unexpected results of the match between the two teams. With the end of the pool competition nearing, every match is crucial. The drama of the Winter Olympics proves that in curling, surprises—and heartbreaks—can happen at any moment.
