Italian head coach on expectations at World Championships
A year after a historic silver medal win at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the Italian squad that enters the 2025 World Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta could have a few surprises, says head coach Enrico Casella.
“Let’s say that this World Championships is a bit particular, because in the year after the Olympics there’s no team event. It’s actually a championship that’s more individual than anything else,” explained Casella in a short interview posted on The Gymspecialist Instagram. “Some gymnasts need to rest a bit because they’ve been heavily involved between the Olympics and now the Europeans, so we’ll see.”
Team Italy, says the coach, has a large pool of candidate gymnasts to choose from and their objectives in Indonesia stretch beyond topping the medal count.
“Our goals will be different than simply getting results,” Casella says.
That could mean resting stars like Olympic balance beam champion Alice D’Amato and reigning European all-around winner Manila Esposito, a favourite to land on the all-around podium at the global event.
“For example, Manila has really carried a heavy load, so if she’s not in perfect condition, she could give up her spot,” the coach said.
That would allow a new crop of Italians, including Giulia Perotti and Sofia Tonelli, members of the gold medal-winning European Championships team, to take the spotlight.
The World Gymnastics Championships run from 19–25 October.