FEI Vaulting World Cup Final - Clash of the Titans

From 18 to 21 April, Saumur, the horse riding and equestrian art world capital, will welcome the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final. The International Federation for Equestrian Sport had published the list of the qualified vaulters for each of the three competing categories (female, male and pas-de-deux). The athletes and their federations have until the 18th march to announce their definite entry.

Female Category - A Swiss/German Contest
Five female vaulters, besides the titleholder Kristina Boe, who was automatically qualified, has been able to be selected for the world cup final after the four qualificative tests of the international circuit (Paris-France, Salzburg-Austria, Leipzig-Germany, Offenburg-Germany). Germany and Switzerland, countries with a leading reputation in the discipline, have qualified three vaulters each. For Switzerland: Nadja Büttiker, second at the World cup final in 2018 individually and in team, World champion in team in 2012 in Le Mans (France); Marina
Mohar, third-place finish at the world cup final last year; and Ilona Hannich, rising Swiss vaulter. In the German side: Kristina Boe, current European champion, winner of last year world cup final and nation cup, might come to defend her title this year in Saumur; Janika Derks, world team champion in 2014 and European team champion in 2015; and finally, Corinna Knauf who is world team champion in 2018, European team champion in 2018 and winner in the nation cup.

Male Category - Only One Chance for the French Team
More nations are represented in this category. Indeed, six countries are likely to be
present for the FEI Vaulting World Cup final 2019 in Saumur. Jannis Drewell, the German vaulters who is currently the titleholder, the world champion last year and the European champion in 2015, is automatically selected to participate to the finale this year. Three other Germans have been qualified: Jannick Heiland, the current nation cup winner, and second-place finish at last year world cup final; Thomas Brüsewitz, who is also
the current nation cup winner individually but also in team and the European team champion in 2017; his brother Viktor Brüsewitz, third-place finish in the European cup in 2011 and 2015, has also been selected.

Switzerland might be represented by the vice champion of the nation cup 2018, Lukas Heppler who was secondplace finish in the final world cup of 2017. Columbia can count on Juan Martin Clavijo, world champion in 2015 and 2017. The Italian vaulter Lorenzo Lupacchini, more known in the pas-de-deux category (world champion titleholder, winner of the 2017) world cup, European champion in 2017), has been selected in the male category this year to have a chance individually.

The USA will be represented by Kristian Roberts, well known in the international vaulting family in the last 10 years. Finally, France has a chance to with Clément Taillez, student at the Pôle France of Saumur, he was at the third place at the world team championship in 2012 and 2014 and second at the FEI Vaulting World Cup final last year.

Pas De Deux - Americans in the Middle of Swiss/German Duo
For their first participation in the final world cup, the Americans Haley Smith and Daniel Janes will have a lot to prove in front to well-known couple. In 2018, the Swiss Zoe Maruccio and Syra Schmid share the podium with the Germans Theresa-Sophie Bresch and Torben Jacobs. The Germans, winners of the 2018 world cup final, are also currently vice champion of the European championship.

Information
FEI Vaulting World Cup Final, from 18 to 21 april 2019, in Saumur.

Program - (Provisional, subject to modifications) :
- Thursday, April 18th : 9 PM - FEI Vaulting World Cup Final Warm Up
- Friday, April 19th : From 8.30 AM to 8 PM - CVI 1 and 3* From 9 PM - First round of the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final
- Saturday, April 20th : From 9 AM to 8 PM - CVI 2 and 3*
From 9 PM - Second round of the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final
- Sunday, April 21th : From 8 AM to 6 PM - CVI 2 and 3*