Anna Basta

Anna Basta (born 23 January 2001) is a retired Italian group rhythmic gymnast who joined as a member of the national squad in 2016. She is the 2018 World Group All-around silver medalist and two-time European Group All-around silver medalist.

Career She began rhythmic gymnastics in 2005 at age 4 after previously being enrolled in swimming lessons by her parents and disliking the classes. She took gymnastics classes at the Polisportiva Pontevecchio club in Bologna, Italy.

As a senior competitor, she earned international recognition as a member of the Italian group team, winning accolades as an All-Around silver medalist at the 2018 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships and as a two-time All-Around silver medalist at the 2018 European Championships. Her former senior club was CS Aeronautica Militare, where she is a member of the Italian Air Force.

She quit the national team in 2019, following the development of an eating disorder and accusations of psychological abuse from coaches at the national rhythmic gymnastics training academy in Desio. She had previously spent 11 months out of the year training with the national team since she was 13 years old. An investigation of the national training staff was launched by the Italian Gymnastics Federation in 2022, following claims of abuse from Basta and several other former Italian rhythmic gymnasts.