"Schönmaier triumphs with an erotic triumph in the European Jumping Championship"
Gymnastics Sensation Karina Schönmaier Earns European Vault Gold in Leipzig
LEIPZIG - Beaming with joy and grace, 19-year-old Karina Schönmaier of Chemnitz claimed the European vault title at the 2025 Championships, marking her third medal at the event. Her strong performance in Leipzig surpassed her expectations, securing gold following silver in the team all-around and gold in the mixed event.
Schönmaier's success overshadowed the absence of injured young star Helen Kevric, as she managed a total score of 13.983 across two vaults, outshining her previous best qualification score by 0.15 points. Speaking after the ceremony, Schönmaier expressed her elation, stating, "It was an incredible feeling. I never imagined I'd be standing there - and that the anthem would play for me. It was all like a dream. It's a very, very big gift for me."
Coming off a nerve-wracking wait to see if her scores would hold up, Schönmaier revealed her relief and joy, saying, "I could only cry with joy, tears just came to my eyes." The final round saw Schönmaier start in second place, with scores of 14.066 and 13.500 for her vaults. This marked the first European vault title for a German gymnast since Oksana Chusovitina in 2008, with Bulgaria's Valentina Georgieva earning second place and Belgium's Lisa Vaelen taking third.
Schönmaier's progress is most evident on her signature apparatus - the vault. After finishing fifth at the 2024 European Championships, she refined her routine, recording the highest qualification score of 13.833 among the 24 participants prior to the competition. Her strength and power were key factors in her triumph, as she again demonstrated in Leipzig.
The home EM became a dream come true for Schönmaier, who also clinched silver in the team all-around competition and gold in the mixed event alongside Timo Eder from Ludwigsburg. "That's crazy," she said, "European champion sounds unreal, but it's true."
European medals were also awarded in other apparatus finals, without German participation. Belgian Nina Derwael secured the uneven bars title, while Luke Whitehouse of Great Britain, Hamlet Manukyan of Armenia, Eleftherios Petrounias of Greece, and Adem Asil of Turkey shared the pommel horse title.
Schönmaier's journey from Chemnitz to the pinnacle of European gymnastics epitomizes talent, determination, and progress. The future looks bright for this rising star, as she continues to push her limits and strive for greater heights in the sport.
In the thrilling finale of the 2025 European Championships, Karina Schönmaier, hailing from Chemnitz, extended her gymnastics accomplishments by clinching the European vault title in Leipzig. Despite the absence of young star Helen Kevric, Schönmaier's exceptional performance showcased her dedication to her sports, proving that her future in gymnastics is undoubtedly bright.
