April 6, 2023 
It was Germany’s day to shine in Omaha as the vaulters took to the CHI Health Center stage for the Burlington Capital FEI Vaulting World Cup Final.
In the Female Division, it was Germany’s Kathrin Meyer who sealed the deal as the final competitor, earning a score of 8.229 from the four panels of judges.
“I’m really happy with it,” Meyer commented. “There were small things I wasn’t 100% happy with but it’s the first time I’ve shown this routine for the season and it was a good job for all three of us.”
The three being herself, the horse, San Classico S, and the lunger, Sonja Meyer. The judges were divided into four panels: Panel A judged the performance of the horse, Panels B and D judged the vaulter’s exercises, and Panel C judged artistic quality. Scores were averaged between the four panels for a final score.
In the Vaulting Technical Test, vaulters are required to perform five technical exercises within one minute, which is a shorter time period than typically mandated in competition.
“It’s a challenge to combine everything together and still be within the time. Usually I take those that are really good in competition already for my freestyle and tried for this year to get more in the movement because my Tech Test last year was a bit stuck sometimes. That was what I wanted to improve for this year,” Meyer remarked.
Meyer had the benefit of knowing her partner very well and being able to predict the 16-year-old Oldenburg gelding’s every move.
“I’m so proud of him,” she shared. “We have had him now for 10 years. He’s doing such a great job and I’m really happy we made it on our own, with some help of course. It was a good round and we came good in the competition, but the first time in the arena I felt my horse was happy with it. That was more important than today, actually.”
Heiland tops the Male Tech Test
Not long after Meyer’s victory, San Classico S helped his nation score another victory. The final competitor in the Burlington Capital FEI Vaulting World Cup Final – Male Technical Test was a fellow German competitor, Jannik Heiland, who earned a score of 8.436 and the win.
Heiland did not have the added benefit of knowing San Classico S. Based in Germany, he decided his horse was too old to ask it to make a journey across the world and originally selected a different horse to compete in Omaha. When it was withdrawn due to minor discomfort the day before competition, Heiland moved onto plan ‘C’.
“Honestly, this is not my usual team. I had to change the horse short [notice] so this was my fifth time on the horse,” Heiland shared. “Therefore, I was very happy with this round. It was not everything perfect but I think 90% of the Tech Test was really good. I’m looking forward to the Freestyle on Saturday.
“I did three trainings before we left and two short trainings in Omaha,” he said of his prep with the new ride. “This was my first time in competition and you never know how the horse will react in the arena, but he did a very great job and this great atmosphere so I’m very happy.”
Heiland earned an artistic score of 8.667 and in an outfit hand crafted by his mother.
“The music for the Tech Test is the painter Van Gogh, and my dress is also in the colors and the style he is painting. My mom painted half of the dress by herself, so this makes the dress and the theme very special to me,” he shared.
Congia and van Gerven dominate the pas de deux
Concluding the Vaulting Technical Test was the Burlington Capital FEI Vaulting World Cup Final – Pas de Deux. Germany reigned supreme yet again, with power duo Chiara Congia and Justin Van Gerven earning a convincing win on a score of 8.370 with their partner, 12-year-old Mecklenberger Max.
Congia and Van Gerven were also forced to make a late stage horse change, falling victim to Heiland’s horse’s minor injury.
“Max is actually not our main horse,” Congia remarked. “We were supposed to go on our main horse, but we are lucky enough to be able to compete on [Max]. We also know him because he is from our stable but we haven’t really trained on him. He did an amazing job.”
“It’s sad for us but it’s horse sport,” Van Gerven said. “It’s our partner so if she is not able to compete we have to find another way.”
The duo began competing in Pas de Deux together seven years ago.
“I did Pas de Deux before with another vaulting partner but she grew a lot and it wasn’t possible for me anymore to lift her,” Van Gerven said. “[Chiara] is happy to be that small; I can lift her a lot.”
Congia had always longed to do Pas de Deux but stuck primarily to individual and team vaulting prior to pairing up with Van Gerven. Becoming a partnership means making decisions as a pair.
“We decide together,” Congia remarked on their music selection process. “Everyone searches for some music. It can be a long process but in the end we are always on the same page with what we like and what suits our style.”
Their two performances for the FEI World Cup Final are routines they know well, having performed them at major championships in Europe over the past few years.
“We thought about different themes during our career and the theme from today was our European Championship theme from 2019,” Van Gerven said. “We thought for our last competition we could show this one and Saturday we would show the World Championship Freestyle from last year. Mostly it’s a contemporary, good-feeling dance together. We want to bring this to the audience and show them a good feeling.”
Vaulters will strut their stuff one more time before the ultimate champions are crowned. The Burlington Capital FEI Vaulting World Cup Final – Female, Male, and Pas de Deux will take place Saturday afternoon at 1:15 CT.
See full results here.
