2006 World all-around champion Vanessa Ferrari has joined the Italian army, the Italian Gymnastics Federation reported Monday.
Ferrari, who turned 19 on Nov. 10, has been absent from competition since having surgery in June to help ease problems with her right Achilles tendon.
After a disappointing 2008 Olympic Games, where she was out of shape due to injuries, Ferrari won silver on floor at the 2009 European Championships in April, a medal she dedicated to the army. Right before having surgery to drain fluid from her Achilles, Ferrari won the Italian National Championship. She dedicated that victory to her tendon.
The Italian Gymnastics Federation's article indicates that Ferrari had intended to inscribe earlier, but injuries postponed the day of enrollment. What Ferrari's official duties will be, or how she'll balance training with being in the army, has not been made public.
It does seem possible to serve in the national military while competing as an elite gymnast. Rings star Yuri van Gelder has served as a sergeant in the Dutch army.
Vanessa Ferrari, 2008 Olympic Games All-Around, Uneven Bars:
Comments
Zamolodchikova is also an official: a lieutenant in the Russian Army. She joined while still competing.
That's good to know! I heard she was training with the army in 2006, but did not know she had actually inscribed. -- Blythe
In Germany there is some sort of "sport soldier" programme. It's similar to a kind of scholarship for elite athletes of various olympic and non-olymic sports. It's aimed at improving chances and financial conditions for amateur athletes. (Which almost every athlete is, except maybe football/soccer players.) Basically, they're paid for training. (Or so bitch people who did not get in.)
I know for a fact that there is sth similar in the Dutch army, maybe that what Vanessa is enrolled in?
army is not good
you are an awesome gymnastics
4 medals are pretty good for a gymnastics
Is the army fun or not?
it is probably sad when people die
answer me now i won't talk to you at all i am just joking to you
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