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Vanessa Ferrari has risen through the ranks of international gymnastics in a style befitting her last name. Just months after leading her Italian team to an upset victory at the 2006 European Championships, she was crowned the first Italian World all-around champion.
Vanessa was born November 10, 1990 in Orzinuovi, Brescia. She began gymnastics when she was 7, after watching a gymnast on balance beam. Vanessa soon began working with long-time coach Enrico Casella at the Brixia club in Brescia. Casella is assisted by his wife Daniela Leporati and Jan Zifcak.
She sped onto the International scene at the 2004 Junior European Championships in Amsterdam. She won the all-around silver, as well team and beam bronzes. Vanessa was the surprise of the competition at the 2005 Mediterranean Games in Almeria, Spain. She led her team to the gold and found herself on the top of the podium as the all-around champion. She won four more medals: gold on vault, beam, and floor and silver on bars.
In her first year as a senior, Vanessa competed at the 2006 European Championships in Volos, Greece. The Italian team edged the Romanians by one tenth of a point, and although no all-around was held, Vanessa had the highest all-around score. Vanessa also won a silver medal on floor, placing above Olympic champion Catalina Ponor.
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