Ferrari burst onto the scene at the 2006 World Championships, winning the all-around gold medal as a 16-year old. She slipped to third the following year, placed 11th at the 2008 Olympics, and only managed 12th at the most recent at Worlds in 2011. But Ferrari has revved up her engine since New Year’s and shown glimpses of her former glory. She won gold on the floor exercise at the London Olympics test event, and she also posted the highest all-around score. During qualifications at London 2012, she finished third on floor. Her improved execution and difficulty are worth a look. But so is the floral tattoo that snakes from the top of her left foot to above her ankle.
Twenty Gymnasts to Watch in the Women’s All-Around and Event Finals
The Americans won the team competition, but there are still 15 individual medals up for grabs. Meet the favorites.
Vanessa Ferrari (Italy)
Full List
Gymnasts
- Viktoria Komova (Russia)
- Aly Raisman (USA)
- Gabrielle Douglas (USA)
- Aliya Mustafina (Russia)
- Deng Linlin (China)
- Vanessa Ferrari (Italy)
- Larisa Iordache (Romania)
- Huang Qiushuang (China)
- Sandra Izbasa (Romania)
- Catalina Ponor (Romania)
- Sui Lu (China)
- Beth Tweddle (Britain)
- He Kexin (China)
- Yao Jinnan (China)
- McKayla Maroney (USA)
- Oksana Chusovitina (Germany)
- Yamilet Peña Abreu (Dominican Republic)
- Jordyn Wieber (USA)
- Ksenia Afanasyeva (Russia)
- Lauren Mitchell (Australia)