Kathrin Meyer and 112 San Classico, lunged by Kathrin’s mum Sonja, claimed the European Senior Individual Female Final for Germany on Friday. Image: FEI/Carolin Kowsky/Daniel Kaiser.
Medals galore on the final day of FEI Vaulting
30 July 2023
By Joanne Littlejohn
It was a scintillating end to the FEI Vaulting European Championships and the FEI World Championships for Young Vaulters and Juniors on Sunday as five nations picked up the final medals of the competition. These Championships left fans on the edge of their seats as the audience were treated to an abundance of skills, strength and top-level performances.
There was no change at the top of the Senior Pas-de-deux scoreboard despite some very close first round scores. Li Laffer and Illona Hannich won the bronze medal for Switzerland – the third for Hannich, making her the first Vaulter to medal in all three divisions at one Championship. Germans Diana Harwardt and Peter Künne finished in second place (8.406) as nerves showed through and a few slips lost valuable points. The Germans were unable to overtake Austrians Eva Nagiller and Romana Hintner who stayed strong under the pressure of entering the arena last, to take the gold medal (8.696) with their artistic concept moving perfectly with the music.
The Italians were unstoppable in the Junior Pas-de-Deux. Giorgia Varisco and Greta Gemignani performed with precision and character, easily winning the World title for Italy for the first time (8.353). Austria’s Sarah Victoria Köck and Clara Dick held firm in second place with 7.754, while their teammates Anja Huber and Katharina Feldhofer launched themselves to a third place finish after a creative display (7.612).
The final event of the FEI Vaulting European Championships was the Official Team competition.
Team Germany took home the title with Kathrin Meyer and Jannik Heiland combining with the squad to give Team Norka a top performance (8.719). In spite of an immaculate start from Illona Hannich, Switzerland finished in silver medal position (8.238), as a fall from Danielle Bürgi, due to her horse getting a fright, left the team too far behind. Along with individuals Iben Dines Pederson and Nanna Trab Christensen, the Danish squad played to their strengths and won the bronze medal (8.050).
It was a magnificent finish and a memorable end to the first triple Vaulting Championships, with 11 champions crowned over six days of incredible vaulting sport.
Earlier results below…
Saturday: Young Vaulter Individual Male, Young Vaulter Individual Female, Junior Individual Male, Junior Individual Female & Junior Squad Finals
On the Saturday, the final of the Male Young Vaulter class kept everyone on tenterhooks right to the end, with errors beginning to creep in as the grandeur of the event affected the performers. Philip Goroncy entered the circle for Germany performing the first clean Free test of the day and was rewarded with a bronze medal (7.835). He was followed by team mate Bela Lehnen whose smooth style fitted the music choice perfectly leading to a high score from the judges and made him a tough act to follow.
Philip Clement began his Free test apprehensively, and his nerves showed slightly with a small slip at the start but he grew with confidence as his freestyle progressed, and displayed incredible skill and harmony. He proved his worth with his new title of World Champion (8.257), while Bela Lehnen taking the silver medal (7.974).
In the Female final the top vaulters were full of confidence. Anna Weidenauer performed a beautiful freestyle, holding the bronze medal for Austria (8.146). Averill Saunders captivated the audience and put on a thrilling display in her Free test, taking home the silver medal, a first for Canada (8.417). Gold was for Alice Layher from Germany who showed her class throughout the competition and proved too strong for the rest. She has now added the World Champion title to the European one which she won in 2022 along with Andrea Blatz and Lambik Van Strokappeleken (8.606).
There was a big change in the Junior female leaderboard. Clara Ludwiczek, originally in fifth place, produced a massive freestyle earning a top score to bring the World title home to Austria for the third time (8.244). Josephine Vedel Sondergaard Nielson held her place firm and won the silver medal for Denmark (8.239), with Giorgia Varisco finishing in third place for Italy (8.044). France’s Oceane Gehan had a devastating round. Coming into the final in gold medal position, her horse began the test very unsettled and she had to show great horsemanship to settle him while losing as few points as possible. She still pulled off an incredibly difficult Free test, but it wasn’t enough, and she completed the competition in fourth place (7.918).
Dutch Sam dos Santos became a double World Champion, winning the gold medal in the Junior Male class once again (8.424). The incredibly talented 14-year-old Lukas Heitmann took home silver for Germany, and in an unbelievably close finish, Baptiste Terrier won the bronze medal for France scoring 7.958, fractionally ahead of Ben Lechtenberg (GER) on 7.953, and Louis Dumont (FRA) on 7.922.
The final medals of the day were for the Junior squads. Team Germany was untouchable. Their freestyle was full of beautiful shapes and complex sequences, which had them in a class above the rest, and their score of 8.512 led them to a gold medal. The silver medal went to Switzerland (7.802), with the United States of America finishing in third (7.021).
Friday: Senior Individual Male, Senior Individual Female & Senior Squad Finals
Celebrations began as early as Friday when the first medals of the FEI Vaulting European Championships were won. A breathtaking Senior Male final captured the attention of the Flyinge kungsgard arena as the level continually elevated. Quentin Jabet was unstoppable aboard Ronaldo 200 with Andrea Boe on the lunge. Full of personality, he glided through his Free test increasing his lead and easily winning the gold medal for France (8.890). Compatriot Theo Gardies presented a near perfect test almost matching Quentin’s Free test score and driving him up the scoreboard, scooping the silver medal (8.641). It was a bronze medal finish for Germany’s Jannik Heiland, the soft fluidity of his Free test allowing him the advantage over his teammates (8.543).
The female final was no less intense. Illona Hannich elegantly performed her freestyle with minimal deductions pushing her up the rankings and into third place for Switzerland (8.265), while Germany’s Alina Ross proved her power and skill with a risk filled programme which delighted the crowd and won her the silver medal (8.327). However, it was with nerves of steel that Kathrin Meyer entered the ring. She executed her robotic inspired routine nearly flawlessly winning the round and the gold medal for Germany, along with her mum Sonja and San Classico S (8.516).
The final medals on Friday were for the squad competition. Sweden ended a 21 year wait for a squad medal, taking home the bronze in an incredible finish at their home games (7.651). It all came down to the wire between Switzerland and Germany with both squads filling their Free tests with artistry and flair. After a tense wait in the kiss and cry area, the gold medal went to Germany (8.261) with Switzerland finishing very close behind (8.173).
Source: FEI press release
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