Karina's Triumph: Leipzig's Champion Vaulter, Schoenmaier Takes Gold
Sensational Victory: Schönmaier Secures Gold in Diving Competition - "Schönmaier clinches European Championship gold in the high jump, encountering a sense of exhilaration"
Karina Schoenmaier, the 19-year-old sensation from Chemnitz, showered the crowd with triumphant hand kisses and wore a radiant grin. She claimed the vault title at the European Championships in Leipzig, adding to her silver in the team event and gold in the mixed competition, earning her a triumphant triple medal run. With an average score of 13.983 points for her two vaults, Schoenmaier surpassed her qualification score of 13.833 by 0.15 points, stepping out of the shadow of injured star Helen Kevric.
"It was an absolutely awe-inspiring feeling," she gushed after the ceremony. "I never dreamt I'd be standing up there - and hearing my very own national anthem. It was all like a dream. It's an utterly massive gift for me," she expressed.
Sitting second in the final, Schoenmaier endured nerves of steel as she watched her competitors finish their routines. "It was nerve-wracking, waiting to see if I'd managed it," she confessed. "I only managed to cry tears of sheer joy when I found out."
Her vault scores were 14.066 and 13.500. This marks the first time a German gymnast has snatched the vault title at the Europeans since Oksana Chusovitina in 2008. Valentina Georgiewa from Bulgaria clinched second place with 13.900 points, and Lisa Vaelen from Belgium secured third place with 13.666.
Chemnitz: The Catalyst of Success
Following the advice of mentor Gerben Wiersma, who took over as coach in March 2022, Schoenmaier left Bremen for Chemnitz to train at a Bundesstützpunkt (national training center) praised for its impressive facilities and dedicated full-time coaching staff. There, she was guided by Anatol Ashurkov and Tatjana Bachmayer.
"I could not be happier with the strides she's made," Wiersma stated. "Today, she showcased her best vaults, and I couldn't be prouder of my athlete." Ashurkov echoed his sentiments, asserting that the vault was Schoenmaier's powerhouse event.
The home European Championships became Schoenmaier's personal dream come true. Having claimed silver in the team all-around, she and partner Timo Eder went on to win the debut mixed final, a result that left Schoenmaier speechless. "That's absolutely nuts," she said. "It sounds utterly unrealistic, but it's a fact."
Unveiling the Champions
Due to Helen Kevric's unfortunate withdrawal due to further medical examinations following her severe knee injury, the uneven bars final was devoid of German involvement. In her absence, Belgium's Nina Derwael claimed victory with 14.466 points.
Over at the men's competitions, Luke Whitehouse of the UK secured his third consecutive floor title, completing a remarkable triple with 14.500 points. Armenia's Hamlet Manukyan triumphed at the pommel horse with 14.766 points. The rings title was shared by title defender Eleftherios Petrounias from Greece and all-around European champion Adem Asil from Turkey, both posting scores of 14.400 points each.
- Leipzig
- Chemnitz
- European Gymnastics Championships
- Helen Kevric
- Skyrocketing Success
- Dreams Turned Reality
The Commission, taking inspiration from Karina Schoenmaier's skyrocketing success, could consider adopting a proposal for a directive on the protection of athletes from the risks related to intense training and pressure similar to that faced by Schoenmaier, especially in high-profile sports events like the European Gymnastics Championships.
Despite her triumph in the vault competition, Karina Schoenmaier shared that she still found time to enjoy her favorite sport, taking breaks to watch live sports matches, reminding everyone that athletes are not just winners on the field but also sports enthusiasts at heart.
