Megan Benjamin Takes Women's Gold in Vaulting

Another USEF update email:

Megan Benjamin Takes Women's Gold in Vaulting

(Aachen, Germany) – It all came down to one minute. It was years in
the making, but it came down to one minute in Aachen, Germany, and
when that one minute was over, 18-year-old Megan Benjamin of Saratoga,
CA, was the first female American vaulter ever to take a world
championship. For the past 20 years, a German woman has always held
the title of World Champion, and Germany has also won 23 of the last
30 world championships. Today, Germany stepped aside while the U.S.
made history.

Benjamin was the last vaulter of the day, so it all came down to a
nail-biting finish for the Americans. Benjamin had a few hours to rest
between her Team Silver performance with the F.A.M.E. team
representing the U.S. Her Team Silver hadn't even sunk in when she had
to vault aboard the horse she co-owns, Leonardo, with longeur Lasse
Kristensen. Benjamin had been the leader through all three days of
competition.

Benjamin again had the highest freestyle score of 8.720, taking the
title with a competition total of 8.421. Benjamin took her victory
gallop on foot with her United States flag in tow, along with longeur
and co-owner of "Leo," Kristensen. Austrian Katharina Faltin earned
the Silver medal with a score of 8.311, and fellow Austrian Sissi Jarz
took Bronze with an 8.254.

"I've actually never done so well as this year," said Benjamin. "It's
amazing. A lot of my success has to do with the fact that I am also on
Devon Maitozo's team."

Since she is 18 and will next year have to choose between vaulting as
an individual or on a team, the inevitable question came up. "Unless I
am ever asked to be on a team this great, I plan to compete as an
individual."

Today was full of firsts; it was also the first time in history an
American vaulting team has won Silver in a world championship.

The top 12 teams were back today to perform their "kur" or freestyle.
The U.S team vaulted third to last, in reverse order of go. The
freestyle routine is made up of both static and dynamic exercises.
Static exercises must be held for three strides, while dynamic
exercises are ones in which the center of gravity moves from one point
to another. Only the top 25 most difficult exercises performed over
the four minutes were counted.

The real competition was between the U.S.A., Austria and Germany. The
U.S.A's F.AM.E. team continued to climb after a somewhat disappointing
freestyle, due to their horse being unsure of his surroundings. Their
choreography again impressed the packed stadium, continuing their
moves throughout the performance, even when not in contact with the
horse. They scored even higher than yesterday—an 8.936, the highest
again of the competition. Overall, they received an 8.152 for their
outstanding effort, earning them a Team Silver, just barely out of
reach of the Gold. This is the best an American team has ever done at
a world championship, even more impressive since they've competed only
seven times and have only been a team since October.

When asked what his words of advice were for his team going in today,
team member and coach, Maitozo replied, "Today was just about looks
and pats. We just looked at each other with that little twinkle in our
eye knowing we could do it, and that's pretty much all we needed to
say today. We really do trust each other, and we've learned to work
together really well."

The Austrians entered the arena after the Americans and had huge shoes
to fill. Despite their calm nerves and their fearless flyer, who could
do just about anything with her little body, they ended their trip
with an 8.161 overall and the Bronze medal.

The Germans were last to go and after part of their music spooked
their horse and two vaulters fell, it appeared they left an opening
for the U.S. to win a Gold. But it was not to be. Germany earned an
8.571 in their freestyle, which got them the Gold medal with a total
score of 8.189.

When asked what felt different about today's performance, U.S team
member Rosalind Ross responded, "This one felt like it was for the
audience." The team was also very generous about thanking the horses
that got them to this point, including their horses back home who
endured endless hours of practice.

"Our goal is always to take what we've done before and make it
better," said team member Blake Dahlgren. "That is what our whole goal
was. We're always trying to push the sport to another level and show
people how we think vaulting should be."

F.A.M.E. team members are Benjamin; Dahlgren, from Sun Valley, CA;
Maitozo, from Simi Valley, CA; Ross, from Woodside, CA; Elizabeth
Iaonnou, from Saratoga, CA; Annalise Van Vranken from Mays Landing,
NJ; and alternate Katie Richie, from Santa Cruz, CA. F.A.M.E. vaulted
again aboard their 12-year-old, 18.3-hand Hanoverian, Grand Gaudino,
owned and longed by Dr. Silke Bartel.

The Brazilians, in their Peter Pan-like outfits, had a beautifully
choreographed performance, including their entrance, right down to
little Tinkerbelle, their flyer, in all white. The Slovakians also put
in a strong performance, telling a story set deep in the jungle, with
their three girls in tiger striped outfits, matching their horse's
surcingle.

The Polish team were the third to go today and incurred some
misfortune when two vaulters fell, pulling the surcingle off center.
The bell rung, and they had to stop to tighten and readjust their
surcingle. Another team who experienced misfortune today was the
Italian team. Three members tumbled off toward the end of their
program. One was able to get back on and properly dismount, but the
other two appeared to be too sore to continue.

Although there were no American men left in the individual
competition, it was still the place to be with the most intricate
moves, the most colorful costumes and the most heart-pounding music.
The Germans easily hung on to their reign in men's individual
vaulting. Kai Vorberg, defending his title and dressed as Mozart, he
performed to `Rock Me Amadeus' and took another Gold medal with a
score of 8.524. Vorberg was so excited after winning that he sprinted
around the stadium, taking off his vaulting shoes, one by one, and
threw them into the audience to the delight of two lucky ladies.

"Vaulting is especially for the audience, then for the judges,"
Vorberg said. "It is fun to show what you practiced and are able to
do. It is great to show you enjoy it." As far as why he picked
Mozart…"There is some genius mixed with madness and you put it all
together and that may be me."

The Silver medal went to the statuesque Gero Meyer, of Germany, who
earned a score of 8.161. Not far behind with an 8.150 was Ladislav
Majdlen, of Slovakia, with the Bronze medal.

"The theme of my kur is jump high and try to grab the stars," said
Meyer. "You might fall deep. I've fallen deep but I am here and happy
to be here. This is an awesome success."

By Jeannie Blancq Putney and Brian Sosby

Congratulations everyone!

Briana Olsen