Henry Frischmuth (GER) and Capitain Claus, lunged by Gesa Buhrig at the FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors and Young Vaulters, Stadl-Paura (AUT) © FEI/Lukasz Kowalski

On the second day of competition in Austria at the FEI Vaulting European Championships for Seniors and FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors and Young Vaulters, the German team continued to show their prowess in the sport as Thomas Brüsewitz, the Senior German squad and Henry Frischmuth all found themselves at the top of their respective competitions. 

Austrian hopes came alive as their Junior squad and the Junior Pas de Deux of Flora Maurer and Larissa Jöbstl showed their class, and Denmark’s Josephine Vedel Søndergaard Nielsen took one step closer to a World Championship title. 

Quality shone through in the Senior competition this morning as one after another the men took to the ring for the first time. Germany’s Jannik Heiland with a new horse for the season, San Djamiro, had a few minor faults scoring 8.462 landing in fourth place overnight. Quentin Jabet excelled with his new combination, Othello van’t Laarhof lunged by Loic Devedu, laying down an 8.647 for France, which only Thomas Brüsewitz (GER), looking for his first senior gold medal, could beat. His exercises were near flawless, earning 8.728 from the Judges. Philip Clement keeps Austrian hopes alive too sneaking in ahead of Heiland for an overnight podium finish on 8.589. 

Squad competition commences

The Junior squad class was superb to watch as one after another laid their claim to a medal with their compulsory exercises. Denmark took eighth place, 6.258 - most likely too far off to take home any honours. Austrian excellence prevailed as their high-level athletes vaulted to victory in the compulsory round, taking 7.113. 

The young German squad showed no sign of nerves. They cooly performed at their debut championships into the second place (7.033) with Sweden right behind in third (6.904). Italy and Switzerland cannot yet be disregarded, their level was also great and are only small steps away from the top three, 6.838 and 6.821 respectively. 

In the Senior competition, the German squad were in a class above the rest. Despite showing some small technical errors, they were still able to score 8.227. Ecuador 28 in the hands of Alexandra Knauf, gave a supreme display of excellence on the lunge. His horse score averaging an incredible 8.223. 

Switzerland tried to keep in touch, but heavy landings and generally lower vault on scores contributed to them being too far behind. They are in silver medal position, 7.455, with some breathing room between them and the Austrians on 7.030. On the hunt for their first squad medal, the Dutch squad are only a fraction behind in fourth, 6.928. All is not said and done until the freestyle round. However, it is incredibly unlikely Germany will go home with anything but gold.

Freestyle begins

The afternoon saw the focus move to the free tests and the first round of the Pas de Deux competition. The battle was on as hundredths of a point began to separate the top combinations. Switzerland’s very young duo - Lea Maeder and Lena Nyffenegger - placed second on 7.531, pushing Germany’s Felix Wöhe and Greta Helene Liebig into third with 7.514, who in turn placed just ahead of Great Britain’s Evie and Milly Jessett, who have the fourth place overnight with 7.500. 

But with an impressively difficult and colourfully creative freestyle, Austrian pair Flora Maurer and Larissa Jobstl dominated the rest in all aspects propelling them ahead on a score of 8.144. Fifth place and still within touching distance of the medals sits teammates Julia Alber and Eva Koren on 7.486.

In the first round of freestyle for the Junior Males, Germany’s Henry Frischmuth put on a jaw-dropping display of beautiful creativity, earning a perfect 10 from one of the artistic judges and a freestyle score of 8.995 - the best of the day - making him uncatchable in today’s competition finishing round one on 8.641. 

His compatriot, Lukas Heitmann, enthralled the arena, his creative routine unique, captivating and earning a total score of 8.428, pulling ahead of Italian Jan Stellahaegi on 8.304. The medals look to be clear, as the top individuals lead by over 0.3. 

Ettore Arena is fourth for Italy on 7.941, with Daniel Klotz-Dedora still hoping to catch with an interim score of 7.907. There is room for movement should any nerves come into play for the final round.

In a highly competitive Junior Female class, the top 20 who progress to the Final were decided. Austria showed their strength as one after another they upped the level of the freestyle competition. Clara Ludwiczek’s 8.519 was enough to remain ahead of her teammates and hold the second place with 8.296, similarly Fanny Seidl delicately performed her way to an 8.651 free test score, the best of the female competition. She holds onto the bronze medal position for now, with 8.255. Both are being hunted down by teammate Antonia Mayerhofer whose difficulty-laden freestyle elevated her into the overnight fourth place, not far behind on 8.140. 

With the pressure truly mounted and the audience in full energy, Denmark’s mighty Josephine Vedel Søndergaard Nielsen entered to perform her free test. Despite a slightly imperfect freestyle, she still posted the second-best score of the competition with 8.609, extending her lead and finishing with a round one score of 8.454. 

Germany’s Amari Santamaria Diaz was the last to go and rounds out the top five on 8.059. With all five scoring over an eight and the final round worth 60% there is still a chance for any to take home a medal. 

Four FEI Solidarity supported athletes featured in the female competition. Despite some horse struggles due to the electric atmosphere in the arena, Ukraine’s Kateryna Panasenko, Estonia’s Anna-Liisa Anson, and Zimbabwe’s Ashley Lupondo finished in 44th, 49th and 56th place in an exceptionally high-quality female competition. But history was made by Ukrainan Polina Shovkova, who’s hard work and determination paid off as she floated through her free test and into the second round for the first time with the ninth best freestyle, a tenth place round one finish (7.730) and the opportunity to move even higher with a strong final round on Saturday. 

The first medals will be won on Friday in the Junior Male competition with further inroads being made towards glory for the Young Vaulters, Seniors and the Junior squads. 

FULL RESULTS