Vanessa Ferrari out of next 2015 world championships

Italian coach Enrico Casella told IG that an injury may keep 2006 world all-around champion Vanessa Ferrari out of next month's world championships in Glasgow.

Vanessa Ferrari (Italy)

"The situation is delicate," Casella said. "I am still not sure about Vanessa's condition. She has a problem with her Achilles' tendon. I have different solutions for the Italian team, and I'll wait until the last minute."

Ferrari was the Italian women's top finisher at the 2013 and 2014 worlds. She placed sixth all-around, second on floor exercise and fourth on balance beam in 2013; and sixth all-around and fifth on floor exercise in 2014. Italy finished fifth in the team final at the 2014 worlds.
Casella said that, with or without Ferrari, the Italian team will be strong in Glasgow.
"The goal for the Italian team is to be in the top eight in Glasgow," said Casella, who coaches Ferrari at his club in Brixia. "We recovered some important girls in this period so I have more ‘arrows' to use."
The top eight teams in Glasgow will advance to next summer's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro; four additional teams will earn berths to Rio at a test competition early next year.
Casella said the Italian team will be finalized after a quadrangular meet amongst Italy, Romania, Spain and Belgium that Italy will host in Novara on October 10.
Although Casella said the October 10 meet will be "decisive" in determining Italy's team for Glasgow, Ferrari is looking ahead to next year.
"The goal for Vanessa is Rio 2016, of course," Casella told IG.
International Gymnast magazine's recent coverage of Italian gymnastics includes:
"Taming Fame" – Carlotta Ferlito interview (January/February 2014)
"Vintage Ferrari" – Ferrari/Casella interviews (December 2013)
"Refueling Ferrari" – Ferrari/Casella interviews (December 2009)
"Change for the Better" – feature on IG's visit to Brixia club (January/February 2009)