By Veronique Bury FIG Editor.

Together they reach for a dream

Beijing (CHN) BTG FIG Office, August 23, 2008: Fourth in Thursday's qualifying rounds, the Italian Group women are aiming to climb the Olympic podium yet again, four years after their Silver medal in Athens.

For the sake of the sport, and in the name of friendship.

Theirs is a story of exceptions. It is a rare thing to see gymnasts from a Rhythmic Gymnastics Group participate in two consecutive Olympic Games. Since the Athens Games, the Italian Group has added to their ranks the lovely Anzhelika Savrayuk, a native of Ukraine who was granted Italian citizenship two years ago, but the other women of this stunning group were present in Greece in 2004.

'We've been training together since 2002,' related Fabrizia D'Ottavio. Roommates in a hotel not far from their training centre in Milan, Elisa Blanchi, Fabrizia D'Ottavio, Marinella Falca, Daniela Masseroni, Elisa Santoni and Anzhelika Savrayuk admit to being the best of friends, a friendship that has developed over the course of long years of training together.

Side by side both on the mat and at the University of Bergamo where they study, these young women have ample opportunity to get to know one another. 'We do everything together, even when we're not training. We're rarely apart in our free time. On the weekends, we go to the movies or dancing, and we even go on holidays together,' explained Fabrizia, who considers her friends as true sisters.

It makes no difference to the women that one of them comes from Ukraine, while another (Daniele Masseroni) excelled in the Individuals, or that since the press got wind of her heart surgery at the age of 8, Elisa Santori is the most popular gymnast in Italy.

On the mat, the women work together in perfect symbiosis. Coached by Emmanuela Macarani, they labour side by side as they create and choreograph their routines. 'We love suggesting new ideas all the time,' said one of the gymnasts. Known for their very imaginative style of choreography and dramatic composition, they delivered at the qualifying rounds Wednesday and Thursday, sliding into fourth position with their total score.