This 17-year-old athlete shares the same club as the gold medalist from the Beijing 2022 Olympics and carries a remarkable legacy to uphold. Learn more about this aspiring Olympian, who, if chosen, has the potential to become one of the standout contenders at the upcoming Winter Youth Olympic Games in Gangwon 2024.

Cortina d’Ampezzo, the enchanting alpine resort town set to co-host the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, is often considered the birthplace of curling in Italy.

Nestled within the stunning Dolomite region, the Mariani family holds a special place for their significant role in introducing this winter sport to Italy.

In 1966, Lino Mariani was among the founding members of the Curling Club 66 Cortina, which is one of Italy's oldest clubs. He later represented the Italian national team at two world championships.

Following in his father's footsteps, Marco, a former professional ice hockey player, contributed to the growing popularity of curling in Italy. He was a player during his team's memorable Olympic debut at Torino 2006 and returned 12 years later as a coach at PyeongChang 2018, as featured in Olympic Channel's original series, Olympic Winter Tales.

Now, Marco's daughter, Rebecca, is ready to continue the family's successful tradition. If she's selected, she could embark on her Olympic journey at the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games.

"I started playing curling when I was around six years old, although initially, it was just for fun. I began taking it more seriously when I was about eight or nine years old, participating in my first real competitions," shared the 17-year-old with Olympics.com.

At the age of 12, she made the choice to fully commit to the family's beloved sport, after balancing curling with alpine skiing and figure skating for a few years.

"It seemed like I had more natural talent for curling, and I also missed the sensation of being on the ice during the summer," she explained. "I missed the two-hour training sessions, the focus, the exertion, and the exhaustion. I missed just being there, without any other distractions.

"It's something I've always loved, and I must admit that I adore it. When I'm on the ice rink, I'm completely immersed in the game. I disconnect from the outside world, and it's an incredibly beautiful feeling. Focusing so intensely is truly wonderful."

Rebecca was born in 2006, the same year her father Marco represented Italy at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Both of them now reside in Pinerolo, a town in Piedmont where curling competitions were held during Torino 2006.

"She chose to follow me here, leaving all her friends behind, believing I was the only coach who could help her grow," said Marco, who, following a successful coaching career in the People’s Republic of China, currently oversees Italy's youth teams.

"I'm quite strict with her. Due to my role, I need to remain impartial and avoid any appearance of favoritism," he added.

Rebecca is embracing this new experience and, after leading her club to a national title, she now serves as the skip of the Italian junior team.

"Being a skip is a wonderful role," she expressed. "There's a lot of pressure because, in addition to directing the game, you also bear the responsibility of the last two shots, which are critical in determining the outcome. However, I must say that the pressure has never really weighed me down, perhaps when I was younger, but now I can handle it quite well."

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