GOTW: Italy's Star, Vanessa Ferrari
GOTW: Italy's Star, Vanessa Ferrari
This week’s Gymnast of the Week is Italian superstar Vanessa Ferrari. She is a world all-around champion, two time Olympian, and has been the leader of Italy’s team for years. While most gymnasts’ careers end in their teens, Vanessa Ferrari is still taking on the world at 23 and is in possibly the best shape of her life.
Vanessa’s charisma shines through on floor and her routine is electric. She combines power with grace in her huge tumbling, gorgeous leaps, and beautiful dance. Vanessa even has a skill named after her- the Ferrari, a tour jete full in a split ring position, a skill that is quickly gaining popularity and has been popping up in numerous floor routines lately.
Vanessa burst onto the international scene in 2006 when she became the first Italian gymnast to win the all-around at the World Championships. She made the Olympic team twice and at the 2012 Olympics she was a toe point away from a floor medal- she was pushed to fourth place after a tiebreaker. Vanessa was back in 2013 and looking for redemption. At the 2013 World Championships she placed sixth all-around and second on floor. Her passion for gymnastics is apparent as she continues to amaze us year after year. She is back in 2014 and we will get our first look at her competitive routines at the 2014 AT&T American Cup.
Related:
Last week's Gymnast of the Week