Alice D’Amato isn’t just making a return. She’s rewriting what that word means. After clinching historic Olympic gold on the balance beam at Paris 2024, the 22-year-old Italian gymnast has her sights set firmly on LA28. But this time, she’s hoping her journey will include a shared spotlight. Alice, who rose through the gymnastics ranks alongside her twin sister, Asia, is dreaming of a comeback that brings both of them to the stage together. And now, Alice wants to return to where it all began, with Asia by her side on the world’s biggest stage.
Her campaign in Paris was nothing short of sensational. Alice qualified for an astounding four individual finals, tying Simone Biles and Rebeca Andrade for the most of any gymnast, and helped lead Team Italy to its best Olympic finish in nearly a century. Her gold medal on beam marked a historic first for Italian women’s gymnastics and established her as a force of her own. But even in the glow of individual triumph, her heart remains tied to family. With her sights now set on Los Angeles 2028, Alice is more motivated than ever ahead of the European Championships.
Despite her Olympic glow-up, Alice D’Amato wasn’t convinced she’d be ready to make waves at this year’s European Championships. Coming off a stretch of limited training, she quietly questioned if she even belonged in the conversation. “I really didn’t think I was in it,” she confessed, as quoted by Olympics.com. “I was coming off a difficult period where I hadn’t trained much, and I hadn’t even considered getting back into shape in time for Euros because there were a lot of other gymnasts in better form than me.” But Leipzig became her unexpected launching pad, her first major appearance since that golden moment in Paris, and a new chapter officially began.
In some ways, Paris had already fulfilled the wildest versions of her dreams. “I think the dreams I had planned have all come true – even more than I expected,” she said. “Everything has gone far beyond what I imagined or expected from myself.” And yet, she’s still chasing. The daily grind of training continues not out of necessity, but out of love for her sport, her country, and herself. “But there are still dreams in the drawer,” she says. “If I’m still here today, it’s because I want to give something to the national team, to myself.” Her biggest dream now? Returning to the Olympic stage in Los Angeles, this time not as a solo star, but as one half of a sister act.
Alice says that her goal is to compete at LA28 with Asia. “There are still three years to go, and I don’t want to rush a step or a move. I just want to enjoy these last four years because they’ll be my last. I want to enjoy both defeats and victories because these years have taught me a lot. And obviously, the goal is not just to participate again. It’s to go with Asia. That’s for sure.” For Alice, who made history as Italy’s first-ever Olympic champion in women’s artistic gymnastics, the next dream isn’t just personal. It’s shared.
How Alice D’Amato’s rise in gymnastics is fueled by a shared dream
As Alice D’Amato’s fame continues to grow, she’s learning to navigate the spotlight. “That was the hardest part for me,” she admitted. Still, the emotions of that gold medal moment in Paris linger. “If I didn’t have any words after winning silver in the team competition, I definitely don’t have any words right now,” she said after her beam triumph. “I can’t believe it..didn’t even expect to win a medal on beam, let alone the gold. I will soak in all the emotions and will do that for as long as I can.” It was the kind of moment that transforms an athlete into a legend, and she knew it.
Alice’s journey, however, began far from the Olympic podiums of Paris and Tokyo. Born and raised in Genoa alongside her twin sister, Asia, Alice took her first gymnastics steps in her hometown club. Their bond on and off the mat became the foundation of a career that’s spanned world medals and Olympic appearances. By 21, Alice had already represented Italy at back-to-back Olympics. She helped her country capture silver in Paris and bronze at the 2019 Worlds. And gold at both the 2022 and 2024 European Championships. She also carved her name into the individual record books with gold on uneven bars at two European Championships. Plus bronzes at the 2019 Europeans and 2023 Worlds.
Despite her individual brilliance, Alice insists that her twin is never a rival. Only a source of strength. Their relationship isn’t about one-upmanship but unshakable support. “Asia and I on the competition floor do not feel against each other because she does not represent a real opponent for me,” Alice explained in an interview with International Gymnast Magazine Online. That’s what fuels her dream for Los Angeles 2028. Not just another Olympic medal, but a chance to take the stage once more, side by side with Asia. For Alice, greatness isn’t just about winning. It’s about who she wins with.
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