Alice Layher (GER) and FBW Candy with lunger Daniel Zembrot during the FEI World Championships 2026. © FEI / Daniel Kaiser

13.08.2026

The opening day of the FEI Vaulting World Championship 2026 showed an incredibly high level of competition as the Athletes and their spectacular equine partners performed their Compulsory Tests.

After a day of top-level sport in Aachen (GER), Germany lead the Female and Squad competitions with France’s Quentin Jabet topping the Male division.

The morning was still cool as the female competitors entered with determination etched across their faces. The USA’s Kimberly Palmer was the first to hold a firm lead scoring 7.839. However, after an eager wait, Kathrin Meyer took the lead for Germany and was the first to score over 8 points, with 8.549.

Meyer’s position was strong until compatriot Alice Layher began. She was simply outstanding. Near-faultless in her execution of the compulsory elements, she soared aboard FBW Candy, lunged by Daniel Zembrot, and was rewarded with 8.788 and the overnight lead.

Canada’s Averill Saunders put herself firmly in contention for a medal by confidently laying down a score of 8.291, with Annemie Szemes (GER) and Leonie Koller (AUT) right behind (8.198 and 8.164).

Jabet takes charge

In a high-quality Male competition, uncharacteristic errors crept in as the heat of the day began to build. Germany’s Thomas Brϋsewitz collapsed during his vault on, costing him valuable points and positions. He had to settle for ninth place overnight with 8.068.

French superstar Quentin Jabet was also not perfect. Despite this, he topped the standings with 8.698.

Jabet said: “I feel great, I think we did a good round. I was happy to see the horse like this in the arena (Estado IFCE). He was calm and cantering really well. The feeling is great for tomorrow, so I am excited.”

Vaulting aficionados had to wait until nearly the final competitor for anyone to come close to Jabet. The young Dutchman Sam dos Santos did just that. His exercises were close to perfect, with some judges scoring him the best of the day. A slightly lower score for his horse, Hero, left him securely in second position on 8.528.

Germany’s Bela Lehnen rounded out the top three. He was strong and steady, earning 8.375 from the judges. Teammate Jannik Heiland’s horse, Rey Rubino, found the atmosphere challenging, so the experienced Athlete had to manage the situation with clever vaulting and ended the day in 18th.

Home nation on top

In a record-breaking Squad competition, 16 teams performed their Compulsory Tests. The strength of the French squad initially gave them the lead on a score of 7.688, despite a considerable number of errors.

However, they could not hold off the strength of the German squad. The home nation made quite the first impression and propelled themselves to the top of the standings with superbly executed elements and few deductions for a score of 8.075. Ecuador NRW and Alexandra Knauf also earned top scores.

The Austrians, too, showed smooth, tight exercises which put them second, ahead of the French after round one. With 60% of the final score coming from round two’s Free Test, there is also potential for the USA or Switzerland to find their way to the podium.

With the Compulsory Tests completed, attention now turns to the next phase. Tomorrow’s Technical Tests could shake up the individual rankings, while the first round of the Pas-de-Deux will give a strong hint as to who will take home the gold medal on Sunday morning.

FULL RESULTS