Italian tennis star Jasmine Paolini will showcase her national pride in a unique way ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics: by carrying the Olympic flame as a torchbearer. Paolini revealed this week that she was selected for the honor through a partnership between herself and the Games’ sponsor, Coca-Cola. The Milano-Cortina 2026 torch relay marks the fourth time Italy will host the Olympics.
The relay will begin on Dec. 6 in Rome, following the lighting of the Olympic flame in Olympia, Greece, on Nov. 26 and its handoff in Athens on Dec. 4. Paolini will join 10,000 torchbearers in a journey spanning 12,000 kilometers across Italy over more than two months, visiting 110 provinces and 60 city celebrations. The flame will reach co-host city Cortina d’Ampezzo on Jan. 26 before lighting the Olympic cauldron at Milan’s San Siro stadium during the opening ceremony on Feb. 6.
Paolini’s selection reflects her ongoing success in representing Italy on the global tennis stage. A two-time Grand Slam finalist, she won a historic gold medal in women’s doubles at last summer’s Paris Olympics with Sara Errani and has been instrumental in Italy’s back-to-back Billie Jean King Cup titles.
This fall in Shenzhen, Paolini played a key role in Italy’s title defense, winning critical singles matches from behind against Jessica Pegula, Wang Xinyu, and Elina Svitolina, before teaming with Errani in doubles to secure the final victory over Ukraine.
“Playing for the national team is something I always dreamed of,” Paolini said after Italy’s sixth all-time BJK Cup title. “Every time it’s an honor to represent Italy, and I hope to inspire the next generation of Italian girls on the tennis court.”
