Joel Retornaz

Joel Thierry Retornaz was born on September 30, 1983, in Chêne-Bougeries, Geneva, Switzerland. He is an Italian curler from Cembra and has been a prominent figure in Italian curling for many years. Retornaz has had a significant impact on the sport in Italy, particularly after his performance at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. Despite Italy having a limited tradition in curling at the time, Retornaz led the semi-professional Italian team to unexpected victories, including against Canada, which generated substantial national interest in the sport.

Retornaz has consistently represented Italy at the highest levels of competitive curling. He has served as the skip for the Italian men’s Olympic curling team in 2006, 2018, and 2022. He has also participated in eleven World Curling Championships, skipping the team in all but his first appearance in 2005. His team earned Italy’s first-ever medals at the World Curling Championships, achieving bronze in 2022 and again in 2024. Additionally, Retornaz has competed in sixteen European Curling Championships, securing bronze medals in 2018, 2021, and 2022.

His career also includes significant success in the Grand Slam of Curling circuit. Retornaz won Italy’s inaugural Grand Slam championship at the 2022 Masters. This was followed by victories at the 2023 Tour Challenge, the 2023 National, and the 2023 Masters, demonstrating consistent performance at an elite level. Outside of curling, Retornaz is a businessman and breeds and races quarter horses. He is currently married and resides in Lugano, Switzerland.