Quentin Jabet, Alice Layher, and Romy Schiess and Celine Wilde emerged victorious as the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final 2026 came to a thrilling conclusion in Opglabbeek (BEL) on Saturday.

Jabet successfully defended his Individual Male title for France, Germany’s Layher claimed the Female crown at her first World Cup Final, while Swiss pair Schiess and Wilde secured a historic first Pas de Deux title for their nation.

Photo – Switzerland’s Romy Schiess and Celine Wilde (© FEI/Daniel Kaiser)

Confidence and excellence were on full display from Alice Layher as she performed her Free Test at Sentower Park. Gliding aboard FBW Candy, lunged by Daniel Zembrot, the trio left the crowd in awe. With an incredible 9.168 in the Free Test, the 24-year-old won the competition and lifted the trophy for the first time with an overall score of 8.998.

“It’s crazy, it feels really good. I was really nervous… but it worked quite well,” Layher beamed. “I had the feeling my horse did a really good job, she never did such a big competition before and she was just perfect.”

Small Moment

Teammate and defending champion Kathrin Meyer had a small moment of hesitation at the beginning of her routine, losing some fluidity and vital points, leaving her unable to catch Layher and finishing second with 8.431. Alina Ross completed the German domination in the Female competition. She leapfrogged the USA’s Kimberly Palmer after performing a high-level, expressive routine, taking third place on 8.253.

The Men’s competition produced a thrilling battle with a tremendously close finish. Germany’s Jannik Heiland just missed out on a third title after his graceful Free Test was not quite perfect enough to maintain his round-one lead (8.742). Frenchman Quentin Jabet successfully defended his title, overtaking Heiland. He performed an elegant yet action-packed routine to win with a score of 8.804. His last-minute horse change to Furst Fridolin HDC, lunged by Sirine Abousaid, proved to be a wise decision.

“I feel amazing. It was a big challenge, I did not come with my usual horse, it was a challenge to compete individually without that much planning… but it is what I like to do. It’s a big arena, beautiful,” Jabet, 23, said of his successful defence.

Switzerland’s Sven Ris completed the podium. He stayed calm, confident and clean throughout his routine and was the only other male to score above eight (8.014).

Unexpected Finish

In an entirely unexpected finish, Swiss Pas de Deux pair Romy Schiess and Celine Wilde found themselves on top of the podium as World Cup champions after starting the day in third place. Their test was beautiful and well executed, and they improved on their round-one score, finishing with a personal-best 8.180 alongside Royal Lotti and Patricia Mischol. They became the first Swiss Pas de Deux FEI Vaulting World Cup™ champions.

It was an emotional finish all round as the German combination of Philine Lindhorst and Cjell Aaron Richert had to settle for second place (8.081). Their horse, Chagall 269, was unsettled at the start and, despite vaulting their hearts out and doing their best given the situation, it was not enough to keep their overnight lead. With disappointment etched on their faces and a crowd full of empathy, they finished their test knowing it would not be enough.

Italian duo Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella delivered a much-improved Free Test in round two. Calypso, their borrowed horse, was happier in the circle, allowing them to show something closer to their normal standard. They earned the second-best Free Test score of the round, raising their total to 7.473 and securing third place.
Germany’s second combination, Arne Heers and Jella Hamann, had to withdraw for the health of the horse.

It was a truly magnificent FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final. With history made, new champions crowned and a successful title defence, it had everything. The athletes, lungers and horses gave their all and created memories to last a lifetime.

FULL RESULTS