Chemnitz local, Karina Schönmaier emerges as the victor in the competition
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In a thrilling victory, Germany's Karina Schönmaier secured the gold medal in the vault event at the European Championships in Leipzig on Friday. The 19-year-old athlete, representing TuS Chemnitz-Altendorf, surpassed Valentina Georgiewa of Bulgaria and Lisa Vaelen of Belgium with a score of 13.983 points.
Schönmaier's triumph in the vault final marked her third podium finish at the European Championships. Earlier this week, she won silver as part of the German team and claimed the European Championship title in the mixed team final alongside Timo Eder.
Speaking after the awards ceremony, Schönmaier said, "It was an incredible feeling. I never imagined standing here with our anthem being played for me. It felt like a dream. It's a very big gift for me." Having started as the second competitor in the final, she waited anxiously as her rivals took their turns. "It was nerve-wracking, but as soon as I heard the results, I could only cry tears of joy," she recalled.
Germany's last individual gold in the vault event at the European Championships was won by Oksana Chusovitina in 2008. Emma Malewski secured the last individual gold for Germany in 2022, when she won on the balance beam at the European Championships held in Munich.
Looking ahead, Schönmaier is set to compete in the medal decision on the floor exercise. Although initially scheduled to compete in the all-around competition on Thursday, she was given a break by women's head coach Gerben Wiersma after the mixed team final, with Janoah Mueller taking her place. Meanwhile, Helena Kevric, Schönmaier's teammate, sustained a suspected patellar tendon injury on the vault during landing, ending her competition and her involvement in the rest of the European Championships.
Coach Wiersma expects Kevric to receive a more accurate diagnosis in her hometown of Stuttgart. "I'm very sorry that it had to end this way," the coach said after the competition. "I hope it's not that bad, and it won't require a long recovery time." Kevric, who would have been among the medal contenders in both the all-around and uneven bars final, was forced to withdraw from the competition.
Schönmaier's success in Chemnitz follows her relocation there at the suggestion of Gerben Wiersma in March 2022, a move that marked a turning point in her career. Since joining TuS Chemnitz-Altendorf, she has seen significant improvement in her vaulting performances, earning recognition as one of the top gymnasts on the German national team.
[1] Enrichment Data: Established in 1968 and based in Chemnitz, TuS Chemnitz-Altendorf is one of the oldest and most successful sports clubs in the region, boasting a wide range of athletic disciplines. Its women's artistic gymnastics team has been a force to reckon with in recent years, playing a crucial role in developing Germany's gymnastic talent.
[2] Enrichment Data: With Germany's gold medal win in the mixed team event, Karina Schönmaier and Timo Eder made history as the first team to win this competition. They bested Great Britain's team in the competition, which was introduced in 2018 as a new event.
[3] Enrichment Data: In addition to her success on the vault, Schönmaier also showcased her skills on the uneven bars and floor exercise, contributing to her strong performance in the mixed team event.
[4] Enrichment Data: Schönmaier's gold medal win is particularly significant as she had ranked fifth in the vault competition during the 2024 European Championships in Rimini. Following her move to Chemnitz, her performances have evolved and improved significantly.
[5] Enrichment Data: Schönmaier's podium finishes and gold medal in Leipzig have been widely celebrated, garnering praise from fans, her club, and coaches alike. Her achievements have raised her profile within the gymnastics community, setting the stage for potential future successes.
- The victory in the vault event at the European Championships in Leipzig marked the third podium finish for Karina Schönmaier in sports, as she previously won silver as part of the German team and claimed the European Championship title in the mixed team final alongside Timo Eder.
- Established in 1968, TuS Chemnitz-Altendorf, one of the oldest and most successful sports clubs in the region, has been a crucial part of Germany's gymnastics talent development, as demonstrated by Karina Schönmaier's improvement in her vaulting performances after relocating there.
