Giulia Zardini Lacedelli

Last updated

Giulia Zardini Lacedelli
Giulia Zardini Lacedelli (born 2003) at the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games.png
Born (2003-01-29) 29 January 2003 (age 23)
Pieve di Cadore, Italy
Team
Curling club CC Dolomiti,
Cortina d'Ampezzo, ITA
Skip Stefania Constantini
Third Elena Mathis
Second Marta Lo Deserto
Lead Giulia Zardini Lacedelli
Alternate Rebecca Mariani
Mixed doubles
partner
Francesco De Zanna
Curling career Curling pictogram.svg
Member AssociationFlag of Italy.svg  Italy
World Championship
appearances
6 (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
European Championship
appearances
6 (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025)
Olympic
appearances
1 (2026)
Medal record
Women's curling
Representing Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
European Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2023 Aberdeen

Giulia Zardini Lacedelli (born 29 January 2003 in Pieve di Cadore) is an Italian curler from Cortina d'Ampezzo. [1] She currently plays lead on the Italian national women's curling team, skipped by Stefania Constantini.

Contents

Career

Women's

As a member of the Italian junior team skipped by Stefania Constantini, Zardini Lacedelli competed in three World Junior-B Curling Championships for Italy through 2018 and 2019. The team never qualified for the World Junior Curling Championships, however, losing in the quarterfinals in both 2018 and 2019.

Zardini Lacedelli was added to the Italian women's team, skipped by Veronica Zappone, for the 2019–20 season. As the previous Italian team was relegated to the B Division of the 2019 European Curling Championships due to their results in 2018, they would need to finish in the top two to promote themselves back into the A Division and earn a spot in the 2020 World Qualification Event. [2] Through the round robin, the team suffered two defeats en route to a second-place finish in the group, only behind Turkey's Dilşat Yıldız who handed the Italian's one of their two losses. [3] Team Zappone faced Hungary's Dorottya Palancsa in the semifinal and won the game 9–4, earning themselves a spot in the final where they would go against the Turkish side. [4] The Italian's opened up a comfortable lead through the first five ends, which they rode to a 5–2 victory over Turkey and a gold medal in the B Division. [5] Their win secured their spot in the World Qualification Event in January 2020, where two countries would qualify for the 2020 World Women's Curling Championship. The team finished 6–1 through the round robin, only losing to the unbeaten South Korean team of Gim Un-chi. [6] They then faced Gim's rink in the first qualification game, where South Korea made a comeback in the second half of the game to beat the Italians 6–5. They then faced Yıldız's Turkish rink in the second qualification game for the final spot in the World Championship, which they won 8–4. [7] Unfortunately, the World Championship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [8] [9]

Due to the pandemic, the European Curling Championships were canceled. [10] As a result, the field for the 2021 World Women's Curling Championship was expanded to fourteen teams as many countries did not have the opportunity to qualify for the Championship. Based on their success at the 2020 World Qualification Event, the Italian women's team earned the fourteenth and final spot in the championship. [11] Following the departure of Veronica Zappone, Stefania Constantini moved up to skip the Italian team which also included third Marta Lo Deserto, second Angela Romei, Zardini Lacedelli at lead and alternate Elena Dami. [12] The team finished in thirteenth place at the Championship with a 2–11 record, defeating Estonia's Marie Turmann and Germany's Daniela Jentsch. [13]

At the 2021 European Curling Championships in Lillehammer, Norway, the Italian team posted a 4–5 round robin record. This placed them sixth in the group, which was good enough to earn Italy a spot in the 2022 World Women's Curling Championship. [14] In the sixth round robin draw, the team defeated Scotland's Eve Muirhead 8–7, being the only team to defeat the Scottish side as they went on to win the gold medal in the playoff round. In December 2021, the team travelled to Leeuwarden, Netherlands to compete in the 2021 Olympic Qualification Event, hoping to secure Italy a spot in the women's event at the Beijing Olympics. After eight draws, the Italian team sat in fourth place in the standings with a 4–3 record. They faced Muirhead's British side in their final round robin draw, with the chance to secure the fourth playoff spot. The team, however, would lose 8–1 to Team Muirhead, meaning Latvia earned the last playoff spot instead of them. [15] At the World Women's Championship, the team finished in tenth-place with a 4–8 record, defeating Czech Republic, Norway, Scotland and Turkey. [16]

The 2022–23 season was a breakthrough year for the Italian women's team as they rose to the top ranks in the world. After two quarterfinal finishes in their first three events, the team won their first tour event at the S3 Group Curling Stadium Series, defeating Ha Seung-youn 7–3 in the championship game. [17] They played in Swift Current again the following weekend at the 2022 Western Showdown where they lost in the semifinals to Meghan Walter. [18] At the 2022 European Curling Championships, the team entered the knockout round for the first time since 2017, posting a second place 6–3 record through the round robin. [19] They could not continue their momentum into the playoffs, however, losing both the semifinal and the bronze medal game to Switzerland and Scotland respectively to finish fourth. [20] With their strong results accumulated during the season, Team Constantini qualified for their first Grand Slam of Curling event at the 2023 Canadian Open. [21] After starting the event 0–2, they stayed alive with narrow victories over Casey Scheidegger and Tabitha Peterson. They then lost in the C qualifier game to Anna Hasselborg, eliminating them from contention. [22] At the 2023 World Women's Curling Championship, the Italian team qualified for the playoffs for the first time in world women's championship history, finishing fourth in the round robin with a 7–5 record. They then lost the qualification game to Sweden 4–3, finishing fifth. [23] In the off season, the team added Swiss curler Elena Mathis at third as she has dual citizenship in both Switzerland and Italy.

Following their breakthrough season, Team Constantini had an even stronger 2023–24 season, becoming the first Italian women's team to rank inside the top ten in the world. [24] At their first event, the team went undefeated at the 2023 Euro Super Series until the final where they lost to Delaney Strouse. [25] They then had a semifinal finish at the 2023 Women's Masters Basel after a narrow loss to Hasselborg. In Canada, the team had five consecutive playoff appearances. After quarterfinal losses at the 2023 Players Open and the 2023 Tour Challenge, Team Constantini won the North Grenville Women's Fall Curling Classic, going undefeated to capture the title. [26] They then made it to the semifinals of the Stu Sells 1824 Halifax Classic before another quarterfinal finish at the 2023 National. [27] Next for the team was the 2023 European Curling Championships where they improved on their 2022 result, finishing second through the round robin with a 7–2 record. They then downed Sweden's Isabella Wranå in the semifinals to qualify for the final against Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni. After the Italians got two in the ninth to take the lead, Swiss fourth Alina Pätz made a perfect hit-and-roll to the button in the tenth end to count two and win the game 6–5. [28] The team then fell into a slump, only qualifying in one of their next four events. They also lost the final of the Italian Women's Championship to the junior Rebecca Mariani rink. [29] Despite this, they were still chosen to represent Italy at the 2024 World Women's Curling Championship in Sydney, Nova Scotia. There, the team got back to their winning ways, finishing 10–2 through the round robin and qualifying for the playoffs as the third seeds. They then beat Denmark's Madeleine Dupont to qualify for the final four before losing both the semifinal and bronze medal game to Switzerland and Korea respectively, placing fourth. [30] Team Constantini ended the season at the 2024 Players' Championship where they went 1–4. [31]

To begin the 2024–25 season, Team Constantini reached the final of the 2024 Euro Super Series, again finishing second place after falling to Fay Henderson. [32] They then had a pair of quarterfinal finishes at the 2024 Stu Sells Oakville Tankard and the 2024 Women's Masters Basel before playing in the first Grand Slam of the season, the 2024 Tour Challenge. There, Team Constantini won all three of their games in the A event, advancing to the playoffs where they lost to Kaitlyn Lawes. [33] After another quarterfinal finish at the 2024 Canadian Open, the team played in the 2024 European Curling Championships where they started by winning six of their first seven games. [34] However, they then lost their final two round robin games before dropping both their playoff games to Switzerland and Scotland respectively, finishing fourth. [35] In the new year, the team won the Italian Women's Championship and went on to compete in the 2025 World Women's Curling Championship. There, they were unable to replicate their success from the year before, finishing in tenth with a disappointing 4–8 record. [36]

Mixed doubles

While attending Università Telematica Universitas Mercatorum, Zardini Lacedelli represented Italy in mixed doubles curling alongside boyfriend Francesco de Zanna [37] as the host nation at the 2025 World University Games in Turin where they finished 4th, losing to Canada 9–3 in the bronze medal game.

Personal life

As of 2024, she is a student. [1]

Teams

SeasonSkipThirdSecondLeadAlternate
2017–18 [38] Stefania Constantini Valeria Girardi Giulia Zardini Lacedelli Elisa De Zordo Lorenza Piccin
2018–19Stefania ConstantiniGiulia Zardini LacedelliValeria GirardiLorenza Piccin Marta Lo Deserto
2019–20 Veronica Zappone Stefania Constantini Angela Romei Giulia Zardini Lacedelli Elena Dami
Stefania ConstantiniGiulia Zardini LacedelliLorenza Piccin Denise Fundone Katia Sottsass
2020–21Stefania ConstantiniMarta Lo DesertoAngela RomeiGiulia Zardini LacedelliElena Dami
2021–22Stefania ConstantiniMarta Lo DesertoAngela RomeiGiulia Zardini LacedelliElena Dami
2022–23Stefania ConstantiniMarta Lo DesertoAngela RomeiGiulia Zardini Lacedelli Camilla Gilberti
2023–24Stefania Constantini Elena Mathis Angela RomeiGiulia Zardini LacedelliMarta Lo Deserto
2024–25Stefania ConstantiniGiulia Zardini LacedelliElena MathisAngela RomeiMarta Lo Deserto
2025–26Stefania ConstantiniElena MathisAngela RomeiGiulia Zardini LacedelliMarta Lo Deserto

References

  1. 1 2 "2024 World Women's Curling Championship Media Guide" (PDF). Curling Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  2. "Le Gruyère AOP European Curling Championships set for Helsingborg, Sweden". World Curling Federation. 11 November 2019. Archived from the original on 18 April 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  3. "B-Division round-robin draws to a close". World Curling Federation. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  4. "Play-offs begin at the European B-Division in Helsingborg". World Curling Federation. 22 November 2019. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  5. "Italy women and Czech Republic men win European B-Division gold". World Curling Federation. 23 November 2019. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  6. "Play-off places set as the world qualification event round robin concludes". World Curling Federation. 17 January 2020. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  7. "Italy women and Russia men complete world championship line-ups". World Curling Federation. 18 January 2020. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  8. The Canadian Press (12 March 2020). "World Women's Curling Championship Cancelled". The Sports Network. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  9. "World Women's Curling Championship 2020 cancelled in Prince George, Canada". World Curling Federation. 12 March 2020. Archived from the original on 14 March 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  10. "Five 2020–2021 season world qualification events cancelled". World Curling Federation. 1 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  11. "World Championships expanded to 14 teams for 2020–2021 season". World Curling Federation. 6 October 2020. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  12. Richard Gray (30 April 2021). "Meet the teams competing at the LGT World Women's Curling Championship 2021". World Curling Federation. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  13. Jackie Spiegel (9 May 2021). "World Women's Curling Championship 2021: Results, standings, schedule and TV channel". Sporting News. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  14. "Germany grab last semi-final spot in the women's last round-robin session". World Curling Federation. 25 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  15. "Scotland women qualify for Beijing 2022, while Japan, Korea and Latvia secure play-off spots at the OQE". World Curling Federation. 16 December 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  16. Bryan Murphy (28 March 2022). "2022 World Women's Curling Championship: Results, final standings of Canada's Bronze medal performance at the international tournament". Sporting News. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  17. Video (full game): 2022 S3 Group Curling Stadium Series – Final – Seungyoun Ha vs Stefania Constantini on YouTube
  18. "Tirinzoni into Western Showdown semifinals". CurlingZone. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  19. "Live Blog: Day six at the ECC". World Curling Federation. 23 November 2022. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  20. "Scotland women and Italy men take bronze". World Curling Federation. 25 November 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  21. Jonathan Brazeau (12 January 2023). "Italy's Constantini looking to follow Retornaz's footsteps at Grand Slams". Grand Slam of Curling. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  22. Jonathan Brazeau (14 January 2023). "Jones eliminates Lawes to qualify for Co-op Canadian Open playoffs". Grand Slam of Curling. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  23. "Play-off field complete at LGT World Women's Championship". World Curling Federation. 24 March 2023. Archived from the original on 20 July 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  24. "2023–24 World Curling Team Ranking: Women". CurlingZone. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  25. "2023 Euro Super Series". CurlingZone. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  26. "Dunstone survives Retornaz in The Soo; more international success in mixed doubles". TSN. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  27. Jonathan Brazeau (11 November 2023). "Homan eliminates Einarson in KIOTI National women's quarterfinals". Grand Slam of Curling. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  28. "Switzerland women crowned European champions". World Curling Federation. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  29. "Qualificazione - Girone Unico - Serie A femminile - Anno Sportivo 2023-2024". Federazione Italiana Sport del ghiaccio (in Italian). Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  30. "Korea win World Women's bronze". World Curling Federation. 24 March 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  31. Jonathan Brazeau (12 April 2024). "Defending champ Wrana secures bye to Princess Auto Players' Championship semifinals". Grand Slam of Curling. Archived from the original on 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  32. "Scotland's Team Mouat stay hot with win at Euro Super Series". TSN. 25 August 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  33. "Homan bounces Kim in Tour Challenge women's quarters". Grand Slam of Curling. 5 October 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  34. "Three semi-final spots taken in the women's competition". World Curling. 19 November 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  35. "Scotland win women's European bronze". World Curling. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  36. "Switzerland, Korea take direct semi-final places at LGT World Women's". World Curling. 21 March 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  37. "Quant'è bella la vita". Instagram (in Italian). @giuliazardinilacedelli. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  38. "Giulia Zardini Lacedelli Past Teams". CurlingZone. Retrieved 12 December 2023.