Beijing2008/Vanessa Ferrari

Gymnastics Italy Age: 17

The highest hope for a first-ever Olympic women's gold in Italian gymnastic history burst onto the scene in 2006, winning the all-around title at the World Championships. Taking the all-around at last year's European Championship confirmed Ferrari's standing on the sport's top rung. If the 17-year-old's youth and iron-like determination seem cut from the Eastern European mold, it's thanks to Ferrari's mother, Galia, a native of Bulgaria who was a competitive gymnast in her youth. But it is Italy that will be most focused on the slender teenager with the Formula One last name. Rather than tires or brakes, Italians will be monitoring the state of Ferrari's achille's tendon injury, which has been nagging her through the spring. It might be a convenient excuse for an Italian athlete, but mamma Galia expects only the best.

瓦内萨•费拉里

体操 意大利 年龄: 17

永远是夺取奥运金牌的最大希望。在2006年她赢取了世锦赛全能称号。去年欧锦赛的全能确定了费拉里在体坛的最高地位，这是意大利奥运史上突如其来地一幕。如果17岁的年纪和钢铁意志似乎有别于东欧性格，这就要感谢费拉里的母亲葛利亚了——保加利亚人，年轻时是一名竞技体操运动员。但是把整个焦点都投在这位苗条少女身上，并用『一级方程赛车』作为她的姓的是意大利。意大利人不只是关注着她的『轮胎』和『制动器』，还一直关注着费拉里致命的腱伤的恢复状态——这个腱伤已经纠缠了她整个春天。对于一名意大利运动员来说这可能是最合理不过的借口了，但是母亲葛利亚唯一希望的是她能最棒。