The Italian roster for the World Gymnastics Championships, which start Saturday, does not include Alice D’Amato after the Olympic balance beam gold medalist recently underwent left shoulder surgery.
“Unfortunately, my journey never seems to end: only six months after the operation on my right shoulder, now my left shoulder is touched too,” was posted on D’Amato’s social media on Sept. 30, according to a translation. “Accepting that I have to operate again at such a short distance is not easy at all. More than the fear of the operation or the months of rehabilitation that await me, inside me there is a great desire to look ahead and get out of this loop once and for all. Will i have the right strength? I don’t know... but I know that facing it with a smile and the greatest possible serenity is already half a step done. It’s still going to be months of patience and hard work, but my head is already projected on the day when I can leave everything behind and go back to my rhythm, my passions and my everyday life 100%. One step at a time, see you on the other side of recovery, ready to start again!”
D’Amato, a 23-year-old who became the first Italian woman to win Olympic gymnastics gold, previously had right shoulder surgery on March 21.
D’Amato also missed the 2025 World Championships in Indonesia as she was “at home resting after a tiring post-Olympic season,” according to World Gymnastics.
The Italian women’s team for this month’s worlds in Rotterdam, Netherlands, includes two members of the 2024 Olympic silver medal team — Manila Esposito and Elisa Iorio.
The top three teams at worlds — the first global championship with a team event since the Paris Games — clinch 2028 Olympic spots for their nations.
The rest of the 12-team Olympic field will be determined by 2027 World Championships results.
