A form of athletic artistry, Vaulting is a youthful celebration of gymnastics on horseback that demands acrobatic skill and precision, combined with grace and creativity. The result is pure theatre: exciting, entertaining and alive. 

FEI Vaulting Facts and Figures 2023 

Top 3 NFs with events in Vaulting

Top 3 NFs with registered athletes in Vaulting 

Top 3 NFs with registered horses in Vaulting 

Major Events in 2023…  

2023 was another year in which the world’s best vaulters performed impressive feats individually, as duos in the Pas de Deux and as teams. The FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final as well as the FEI Vaulting European Championships were just two of several top-level events showcasing the harmony and artistic component that make up this beautiful discipline. Revisit all the highlights of 2023 right here.    

• Check out all the latest FEI Vaulting highlights on our dedicated FEI YouTube channel  
• Watch all the main Events live and on replay on FEI.TV  
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Burlington Capital FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final, Omaha (USA)   

German athletes kept their cool and took the top spot in all three events at the Burlington Capital FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final.  

Kathrin Meyer (GER) had one foot firmly on the podium after her technical test, and she made it clear with her Freestyle that she had no intention of letting anyone else have the top spot. Powerfully, she moved through her robotic Freestyle to take the title at her first FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final. Together with her mother Sonja Meyer, and her own horse, San Classico S OLD, the trio proved an unbeatable combination ending on a score of 8.428.  

Danielle Bürgi (SUI) was breathing down the neck of the German vaulter, but even with her creative Freestyle winning the round it wasn’t enough. Vaulting on Best Brew, lunged by Andrea Selch, she finished second with 8.346. Despite a technical glitch at the beginning of her round, Julia Sophie Wagner of Germany was able to keep her focus and pulled off an excellent Freestyle performance with DSP Sir Laulau lunged by Hendrik Falk for third. 

Germany’s Jannik Heiland claimed the title in the individual male category, with lunger Sonya Meyer and San Classico S OLD, ahead of young Sam Dos Santos (NED), who finished second on his FEI Vaulting World Cup Final™ debut with Max and Sarah Krauss. Bronze went to Switzerland’s talented Andrin Müller, who was also teamed up with Max and Sarah Krauss. 

Germany’s Chiara Congia and Justin van Gerven had a momentary loss of balance in the Pas-de-Deux, but quick reactions reduced the points lost by the error. The pair completed their test in spectacular style but had to wait for the final scores to see if the slip had cost them the title. Fortunately, they proved too strong for the opposition to win the title with lunger Alexandra Knauf and Max. Their compatriots Diana Harwardt and Peter Künne, together with DSP Sir Laulau and lunger Hendrik Falk earned silver. Austria’s Eva Nagiller and Romana Hintner completed the podium with Killian lunged by Mary McCormick. 

Female Individual Podium

Male Individual Podium

Pas-de-Deux Podium 

FEI Vaulting European Championship for Seniors, Flyinge (SWE) 

With 26 nations represented across three competitions, the organising committee in Flyinge created the largest Vaulting Championships in history by hosting the FEI Vaulting European Championship for Seniors in combination with the FEI World Championship for Juniors and the premiere of the FEI World Championship for Young Vaulters.   

Kathrin Meyer executed her robotic inspired Freestyle routine nearly flawlessly in the individual female final to win gold for Germany, along with her mother Sonja and San Classico S OLD on a score of 8.516. Fellow German Alina Ross proved her power and skill on Baron R, lunged by Volker Ross, with a risk-filled programme which delighted the crowd and won her the silver medal on a score of 8.327. Illona Hannich elegantly performed her Freestyle on Rayo De La Luz, lunged by Monika Winkler-Bischofberger, with minimal deductions pushing her up the rankings and into third place for Switzerland with 8.265. 

In the male individual final, Quentin Jabet (FRA) was unstoppable aboard Ronaldo 200 with Andrea Boe on the lunge, gliding through the Free test to increase his lead and win the gold medal for France on 8.890 points. Compatriot Theo Gardies presented a near perfect Free test on Sir Sensation, lunged by Sebastien Langlois, almost matching Jabet’s score, which allowed him to scoop the silver medal on 8.641. Bronze went to the German combination of Jannik Heiland, Dark Beluga FRH and lunger Barbara Rosiny with 8.543. 

In the Pas-de-Deux, Austrians Eva Nagiller and Romana Hintner connected effortlessly, executing exceptionally clean lines aboard Idefix 25, lunged by Klaus Haidacher, to deliver a gold-medal performance on 8.515 points. Germany’s Diana Harwardt and Peter Künne (GER) clinched silver with DSP Sir Laulau, lunged by Hendrik Falk, finishing just behind the winners on 8.468, while the bronze medal went to the Swiss pair, Li Laffer and Illona Hannich on Gitano des Mondos, lunged by Alana Sohm, with 7.976.   

With a score of 7.651, Sweden ended a 21-year wait for a squad medal, taking home the bronze in an incredible finish at their home games. 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 the gold medal ended up going to Germany with 8.261 points and Switzerland had to settle for silver on 8.173. 

Team Germany took home the European championship title with top performances leading to the winning score of 8.719 points. Silver went to Switzerland with 8.238, and the Danes took bronze on 8.050. 

Female Individual Podium

Male Individual Podium

Pas-de-Deux Podium 

Squad Podium 

Nations Team Podium

FEI Vaulting World Championships for Young Vaulters & Juniors, Flyinge (SWE) 

The Female Young Vaulters final featured confident young women delivering stunning sporting performances. Gold went to Germany’s Alice Layher, who proved unbeatable with Lambik Van Strokappeleken, lunged by Andrea Blatz, finishing on 8.606 points, adding the world title to the European one she won in 2022. Averill Saunders captivated the audience and put on a thrilling display in her Free test, taking home the silver medal, a first for Canada with 8.417 and Anna Weidenauer presented a beautiful Freestyle, earning her the bronze medal for Austria on a score of 8.146.    

Nerves meant that Austria’s Philip Clement began apprehensively but regained confidence as his Freestyle progressed, and was able to display incredible skill and harmony aboard Louis Bonheur, lunged by Lena Kalcher-Prein, which ultimately earned him the title of World Male young Vaulter champion with 8.257 points. Bela Lehnen from Germany took the silver medal on a final score of 7.974 ahead of compatriot Philip Goroncy.  

The Junior Female leader board witnessed big changes over the competition days. Finishing on a score of 8.244 points, Clara Ludwiczek, originally in fifth place, produced a massive Freestyle on Domino, lunged by Klaus Haidacher, earning a top score to bring the World title home to Austria for the third time. Denmark’s Josephine Vedel Sondergaard Nielson held firm for the silver medal with 8.239 points, while Giorgia Varisco finished in third place for Italy on 8.044. 

Sam Dos Santos (NED) became double World Champion, winning the gold medal in the Junior Male class once again, scoring 8.424 points with Chameur, lunged by Rian Pierik. 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 Italians were unstoppable in the Junior Pas-de-Deux. Giorgia Varisco and Greta Gemignani performed with precision and character on the back of Rosenstolz 99, lunged by Laura Carnabuci, easily winning the World title for Italy for the first time on 8.353 points. Austria’s Sarah Victoria Köck and Clara Dick held onto second place with 7.754, while their teammates Anja Huber and Katharina Feldhofer won bronze with 7.612. 

Lastly, in the Junior squads, team Germany proved unbeatable. The Freestyle was full of beautiful figures and complex sequences, which had them in a league of their own, and won them the gold medal and championship title on 8.512 points. The silver medal went to Switzerland with 7.802 ahead of the United States of America in third with 7.021. 

Female Individual Young Vaulters Podium

Male Individual Young Vaulters Podium

Female Individual Junior Vaulters Podium

Male Individual Junior Vaulters Podium

Pas-de-Deux Junior Podium

Squad Junior Podium