2006 World all-around champion Vanessa FERRARI has joined the Italian army, the Italian Gymnastics Federation reported.
Ferrari, who turned 19 on November 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 Milan, a medal she dedicated to the army. Right before having surgery to drain fluid from her Achilles, Ferrari won the 2009 Italian National Championship. She dedicated that victory to her tendon.