2. Soaring Success: Karina Schoenmaier's European Championship Conquest on the Vault
Gymnast from Bremen persists in earning medals
In the pulsating atmosphere of the gymnastics European Championships in Leipzig, 19-year-old Karina Schoenmaier, hailing from Bremen, practically danced her way to triumph. After nabbing silver with the team and gold in the mixed event, she added another accolade to her collection on her signature apparatus—the vault. With an impressive score of 13.983 points across two vaults, Schoenmaier not only outdid her qualification score by 1.5 points but also clinched her first European title in the vault since Oksana Chusovitina in 2008.
The elated gymnast cooked up a storm for the audience with a flourish of kisses and an ear-to-ear grin. "It's a very big gift for me," she mused, struggling to find words to describe the surreal feelings flooding her. "It's like in the movies," she continued, flabbergasted by the incredible rush coursing through her veins.
The Vault: Schoenmaier's Showstopper
Schoenmaier's journey to the top was not a solitary one. Following the appointment of Gerben Wiersma in March 2022, she made the move from Bremen to Chemnitz on his advice. Wiersma opined that the change to a national training center would offer much-improved conditions, complete with coaches dedicated to her training. "I'm so happy with how she has developed," Wiersma said with a broad smile.
The transformation in Schoenmaier's performance on the vault—her signature apparatus—was particularly noticeable. After finishing fifth at the European Championships in Italy the prior year, she honed her routine even further, making leaps and bounds. Her vault showcase in Leipzig's qualification earned the highest score among the 24 participants, an average of 13.833, a testament to her power on the apparatus.
Homerun in Leipzig
The home European Championships proved to be a whirlwind ride for Schoenmaier. The silver medal in the team all-around event was swiftly followed by a glorious gold shared with Timo Eder in the first Mixed Team final ever. "It's crazy," she admitted, "but it's true."
Beyond the Victory: A Promising Future
Schoenmaier's stirring performances at the European Championships have catapulted her into the limelight. Her skill, mental fortitude, and ability to shine under pressure set her apart, not just in Germany but also in the broader European gymnastics scene [1][2][5]. As she eyes upcoming international competitions like the World Championships and potential Olympic qualifiers, her place on the world stage seems secure, provided she continues to flourish and avoid injury.
A young and recent international champion, Schoenmaier is poised to be a key player and potential leader for German gymnastics in the years to come [2][4]. Her ascent is steep, earning her a prominent position in the annals of European artistic gymnastics.
In her new training environment in Chemnitz, Gerben Wiersma played a crucial role in helping Schoenmaier significantly improve her performance on the vault, her signature sport.
Motivated by her recent triumphs at the European Championships in Leipzig, Schoenmaier aims to build on her success and compete in upcoming international competitions, such as the World Championships and Olympic qualifiers.
