It’s still all about the French

The French vaulters are dominating the individual competitions in vaulting at the FEI ECCO World Championships

It has been a day in red, white and blue in Jyske Bank Boxen at the World Championships in vaulting. The individuals from France continued their winning-stride from yesterday’s round of compulsories, when they concurred the technical tests for both male and female individuals.

Felt the pressure
In the female competition the pressure was on for Manon Moutinho before the technical test, going in last, knowing that her competitors was biting her ankles after their technical tests.
“We really felt the pressure - both the horse, the lunger and I - going into the arena as the last one. But coming into the arena I really connected with the both of them, and did some really good technical exercises”.
With a score of an amazing 8.815 for her technical test, she did not have to worry though, and she feels confident for tomorrow.

“Everything was not perfect, but it was good, and I can't wait for tomorrow - going into the final as number one, because I really love my freestyle and can't wait to show it in this setting”.

It is so close
In the Top 5 of the female competition it is very close before the final tomorrow. And the medals is still up for grabs. Coming in second is Germanys Julia Wagner at her first big international championship with a overall score from the two first rounds of 8.310.
“I was so nervous going into the test. But now I'm very proud. I had to be a little bit speedy, because I lost some seconds in the beginning, so I was behind my music. But it went well, and I'm looking forward for my freestyle tomorrow. I really love my freestyle”, Julia Wagner said after her test.

It is also German in the third place with Kathryn Meyer and Capitain Claus scoring a total of 8.265. Canadas Averill Saunders is in the fourth place with 8.198 and Sheena Bendixen from Denmark is number five with 8.166.
But there is just a margin of 0.099 from third to fifth place, so the medals has not yet found their new home.

It is the last season of vaulting for reigning World Champion, Lambert Leclizio from France. And he is here to show the world, why he has won everything, there is to win.
And today’s technical test was no different. What a test! Rewarded with a wooping 9.221 and just leaving everybody speechless.
“The horse was so great, and the program started out really well. I get in a bit of trouble in the end with my last exercise - knee to stand, so I really had to fight to find my balance before my dismount. But the score is crazy. And I'm looking so much forward to the freestyle, if it's like this. I just want to enjoy the atmosphere and have great fun in my final round”, Lambert said after the round.

What an end to a beautiful career, if he continues his stride from the two first rounds.

The junior coming in hot
As in the female competition, it is also really, really close in the men’s, with five men at 8.5. In today’s competition, France also took second place with Quentin Jabet scoring 8.642, with the Netherlands Sam Dos Santos doing an amazing job in his first big championship being only sixteen years old and landing a third place with the score of 8.585 for the first two rounds, which made the sympathetic vaulter round out of words.
“I was so great. I don't have any words. It feels amazing to be at this level, and do so well. I don't know what so say. I'm just so happy”, the junior-vaulter said after his routine, leaving no doubt that he is one for the future.

Subjects