Montpellier Euros are just behind the corner, just give an eye at the Italian team for these Championsips. The four gymnasts chose to represent Italy are Erika Fasana, Carlotta Ferlito, Vanessa Ferrari and Martina Rizzelli. In the nominative roster Enus Mariani was planned to compete, but a sprained ankle duing the Serie A and limited training kept her away from the team.
Erika Fasana
Erika is having her best year ever, she’s solid, has good difficulty and hits when it counts. After the 3° place at the American Cup, she can be one of the top contenders for the individual podium. She has a good DTY on vault, a clean set on bars (5.6) and a super strong floor, with a double-double, double layout and a double pike (6.0). She has also been training a full twisting double layout, even if we are probably going to see it later this season, and sometimes she adds an illusion turn after her gorgeous Memmel turn. Erika’s only weak event is beam, where she usually has a few form breaks and not the best amplitude but a nice D score (5.7). With AA scores between 56.5 and 57.5 and a clean competition , the podium can be something more than just a dream, and also on floor a hit performance from her it’s going to be hard to beat.
Carlotta Ferlito
After a long absence last year, Carlotta has decided to come back stronger. She no longer is part of MTV reality “Ginnaste” and has a different attitude since last year. Carlotta is not at her peak right now , but she has really improved after many people thought she was done. I think she will compete the AA where on vault she has a nice Yurchenko 1 ½ even if she tends to bend her legs for the landing, on bars, her weak event, she has made great strides. Usually her scores were in the lows 13,now, adding a Maloney and cleaning up the form, she scores in the lows 14 (5.4). Ferlito’s best event, beam, is the top routine of the team, where she aims a 6.3 D score made by connections: bhs+bhs+layout, split leap+aerial cartwheel, front aerial+sheep jump, switch leap+back tuck. Carlotta usually doesn’t have many form problems, except for the 2 ½ twist dismount, but rarely hits all the connections. Even with those problems, a final on this event it’s very likely for her. On floor she has added back a full-in and took out the triple twist (5.3), which is often quite messy. Timber by Kesha, a funny performance and decent acrobatics can ensure an entertaining routine from her.
Vanessa Ferrari
Vanessa has been dealing with glandular fever since the Stuttgart World Cup. If someone has watched her during the last competitions, she looked exhausted and not in a very good shape. At the American cup she was even worried about being able to finish the floor routine without fainting. Well, she found out about the illness just a few weeks ago and being in the recovery phase , Vany has had only light training. The Euros spot was in jeopardy, but the lack of some big names in Montpellier and the fact those could be Vanessa’s lasts Individual European Championships, made her force to train. As a personal opinion, I think she should have rest to prevent injuries or unsatisfactory performances, because glandular fever is a big deal and ignoring it could be very dangerous, but if doctors are ok, so am I. Vanessa will likely compete the AA with her usual routines, which are watered down compared to what she did in Nanning. Her main problems is shortness of breath, so floor is going to be a challenge for her even if she’s one of the best in the world on this apparatus. I just hope she will be fine and that her participation won’t be useless.
Martina Rizzelli
Martina has been a strange case of Italian gymnastics. She’s talented and has one of the highest total D score in Europe, but she suffers from performance anxiety. On vault she has a DTY, a little messy but very needed in the team, her bars are very original for the team, a Ricna to Pak and a Maloney to a bail to handstand (6.0),but she has had problems hitting. Last year she had some meltdowns on this event, but during this year’s Serie A and in Jesolo, Martina was much more confident. A hit routine from her can bring back Italy to a European bars final, she just needs to do what she everyday does in training. Beam for her is tricky and also hit routines doesn’t receives good scores, so probably the AA is out of question for this competition. Anyway her floor is quite good ( double layout, full-in , double pike, double tuck) and some more energetic choreography could help her to be more considered on this event (5.7).
Even if she’s not in the team, I wanted to talk a little about Arianna Rocca. Arianna was supposed to replace Vanessa if she wasn’t in shape for these Championships, but since Vanessa is going, she lost her chance. Arianna was never really considered for a big competition despite being numerous time national Champion on vault (and has just performed in Jesolo the best DTY Italy has), winning a silver on beam during Italian Championships and performing a very worthy floor routine ( double layout, full-in,2 ½ twist, double pike).
Honestly I’ve never understood some of her scores, too low compared to others, and the lack of convocations she had, even for smaller international meets. She deserves more, so I hope this is just the beginning for her.
Anyway, good luck to all the gymnast. Give your best girls.
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Article by: Giuly Holzer
Photo Cover: Nadia Boyce