Italy and Germany win Vaulting finals with flair 

FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final 2024 Basel, Switzerland All medalists pose for a photo at the prize giving ceremony for the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final 2024 in Basel, Switzerland, January 14, 2024.

The FEI Vaulting World Cup™ final, Basel (SUI), culminated in an exceptional morning of extraordinary Vaulting talent today.

There were twists, turns and top marks on display as Germany kept hold of the Male and Female titles.

Kathrin Meyer and Jannik Heiland retained their crowns whilst Pas de Deux, Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella put their fashion foot forward to prevent a triple German success and return home to Italy with their first FEI Vaulting World Cup™ win. 

Mens Competition

The Men kicked off the final, Theo Gardies posting a whopping 9.118 Free Test score with Sir Sensation and Sebastion Langlois for France, earning him a near perfect artistic score in the process and a total of 8.808.  

Hopes were high for fans of Viktor Brüsewitz as he entered, second last to compete, on Goldjunge lunged by Jaqueline Schönteich. With lower execution and artistic scores, he was unable to hold his round one position and slipped to third place in the final rankings, 8.463.

Only Jannik Heiland (GER) could stand in the way of a French victory, and he performed confidently with noble steed Dark Beluga FRH and Barbara Rosiny. An incredibly clean routine coupled with top marks for his horse landed the victory in his lap once again, a back-to-back triumph and personal best World Cup final score of 8.917. 

JANNIK HEILAND of Germany jumps from DARK BELUGA FRH in the free test to win the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final 2024 in Basel, Switzerland, January 14, 2024.
JANNIK HEILAND of Germany jumps from DARK BELUGA FRH in the free test to win the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final 2024 in Basel, Switzerland, January 14, 2024.

“The conditions were amazing, I had two really good rounds… Beluga is my once in a lifetime horse”.

Jannik Heiland (GER)

Ladies Competition

With one champion decided, the competition moved straight to the females. Illona Hannich (SUI), determined to make amends for a lower Technical Test score, showed clean lines and beautiful expression aboard Rayo de la Luz. She thrilled the judges and took home the reward of the top female freestyle score of the day, 8.880, which was not enough to win the class but brought her to the third step of the podium and showed her potential for the future. 

The battle was fought between defending champion Kathrin Meyer, GER, and round one winner Alina Ross, GER, both athletes bringing new freestyles and artistic concepts to the ring. Kathrin’s connection with her horse, San Classico S and lunger, Mum, Sonja Meyer was evident.

KATHRIN MEYER of Germany on SAN CLASSICO S OLD competes in the free test to win the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final 2024 in Basel, Switzerland, January 14, 2024.
KATHRIN MEYER of Germany on SAN CLASSICO S OLD competes in the free test to win the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final 2024 in Basel, Switzerland, January 14, 2024.

There was emotion and harmony in her performance, completing the competition on a personal best FEI World Cup™ final score of 8.503, leaving her fate in Alina’s hands. 

Despite showing a high level of difficulty and strong exercises, Alina was unable to perform to perfection on Goldjunge with Jaqueline Schönteich, a new partnership for this event. Goldjunge scored lower than San Classico S, contributing to an 8.311 final score and a second-place finish. 
A double FEI Vaulting World Cup™ victory for Kathrin Meyer.

As ever, the Pas de Deux final left everyone speechless. Switzerland’s Zoe Maruccio and Syra Schmid created appealing shapes and worked in complete balance delighting the home crowd and confirming a third-place finish with Michael Heuer and Latino v. Forst CH (8.168). 

SYRA SCHMID and ZOE MARUCCIO of Switzerland compete on LATINO V. FORST CH in the Pas-de-Deux free test to finish bronze the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final 2024 in Basel, Switzerland, January 14, 2024.
SYRA SCHMID and ZOE MARUCCIO of Switzerland compete on LATINO V. FORST CH in the Pas-de-Deux free test to finish bronze the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final 2024 in Basel, Switzerland, January 14, 2024.

It was a nail-biting end as everything came down to hundredths of a point between the German and Italian pairs. 

Impossible to take your eyes off them, Diana Harwardt and Peter Künne put their everything into a seamless performance for Germany. There were no errors from DSP Sir Lau Lau and Andrea Harwardt today and earning a massive total score of 8.549, there couldn’t have been any more pressure on the final combination as they entered for Italy. 

DIANA HARWARDT and PETER KÜNNE of Germany compete onDSP SIR LAULAU in the Pas-de-Deux free test to finish silver the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final 2024 in Basel, Switzerland, January 14, 2024.
DIANA HARWARDT and PETER KÜNNE of Germany compete onDSP SIR LAULAU in the Pas-de-Deux free test to finish silver the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final 2024 in Basel, Switzerland, January 14, 2024.

Drama, creativity and non-stop intricate combinations enhanced a harmonious routine from Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella in partnership with Claudia Peterson and Orlando Tancredi.  They more than held their nerves and blew the judges away with musicality and movement, pipping the Germans and winning the final for the first time by only 0.047 (8.596).

DAVIDE ZANELLA and REBECCA GREGGIO of Italy celebrate after competing on ORLANDO TANCREDI in the Pas-de-Deux free test to win the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final 2024 in Basel, Switzerland, January 14, 2024.
DAVIDE ZANELLA and REBECCA GREGGIO of Italy celebrate after competing on ORLANDO TANCREDI in the Pas-de-Deux free test to win the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final 2024 in Basel, Switzerland, January 14, 2024.

“We were very happy. Last year was a tough year and we worked a lot and wanted to enjoy this competition”.

Rebecca Greggio (ITA)

The 2024 FEI Vaulting World Cup™ final could not have been better. The curtains have closed in Basel for now, however we will return next year for the 2025 FEI Vaulting World Cup™ final alongside the FEI Jumping and Dressage World Cup™ finals (basel2025.com), where there could be a chance for our individual medallists to defend their titles for a second time. 

Written by Joanne Littlejohn

Feature image: FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final 2024 Basel, Switzerland. All medalists pose for a photo at the prize giving ceremony for the FEI Vaulting World Cup Final 2024 in Basel, Switzerland, January 14, 2024.


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