August 27, 2006

Megan Benjamin Takes Women’s Gold in Vaulting
By Jeannie Blancq Putney and Brian Sosby, USEF

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.”