Alright, where did we leave off?
That is the way we would love to begin the adventure of a magazine dedicated to Vaulting, as if it had always been there, but never put down in words. As if it were a chat between friends who love a sport and meet at a bar to talk about it. Like a granddad telling his niece her favourite fairytale, lighting up her eyes with curiosity and fabulous pictures she will never forget.
So be it! We rise to the challenge and start by looking back, trying to summarize “our” 2017, giving value to the best, but not forgetting the worst, either, because we know it is especially through disappointment that we learn and we grow.
WORLD CUP
2017 began in the best possible way for Italian vaulting. As the Winter World Cup came to a close, Spring opened with Anna Cavallaro’s victory in the Individual Female category. Anna took everyone by surprise daring a new, unusual theme for her: the wolf. But that is not all: Silvia Stopazzini was just behind her on the third step of the podium, growing fast. Above all, the 2016-17 World Cup series marked the beginning of a new era for Italian Vaulting: Silvia Stopazzini (yeah, her again) and Lorenzo Lupacchini, imposed themselves in the pas de deux class. Italy got home from Dortmund with the enviable result of two golds and a bronze. This time, Italy secured the biggest medal collection.
INTERNATIONAL AGONISTIC SEASON
It was international season once again at Easter time. Italian athletes rushed to Vado di Portogruaro (Venice) and made a good impression. “As usual”, Anna, Silvia and Lorenzo were atop of the podium in the individual and pas de deux classes, but there were also other good placings, such as the third places of Francesco Bortoletto (senior individual male) and Giovanni Bertolaso and Sarah Durelli in the individual junior class. CVIs in Ebreichsdorf (AUT) and Pezinok (SVK) once again confirmed the good results, and also drew attention also to Isabella Spillantini, who won the second place at the Slovakian CVI.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS AND JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Finally came August– hot, loaded with expectations. The Italian vaulting community went back to Ebreichsdorf for the European and World Championships, leaving with a suitcase full of dreams. Unfortunately, it was not all sunshine and rainbows. Anna won an honourable fourth place, but we can’t deny that everyone hoped to rejoice with her atop another podium. The senior team missed the podium too, fourth again, just behind the big-time actors Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the individuals, Silvia followed in sixth, Lorenzo in ninth, Francesco in twelfth. Things did not go as hoped for Juniors either. Giovanni ended up fifth, while the team placed again fourth once again. Filippo Facini ended up with a twelfth place, the pas de deux, composed by Valeria Tomei and Antonio Popolo, tenth, while Yanik Chimirri, Sarah Durelli, Isabella Spillantini and Lucrezia Ruboni unfortunately did not make it to the final round. But, as we know, if they were always sure they would win (or lose), people would probably not compete at all. At first sight this might not look like a good edition for Italy, but fortunately there were Silvia and Lorenzo and it was finally gold. Beautiful! Deserved! An amazing, thrilling performance on which nobody had a doubt. They are the new European champions. “Emotional” is the only way to describe the choir from the sidelines as the Italian national anthem was playing.
ITALY
What can we say about the national scenario? Three, as always, were the most important national competitions: the Coppa delle Regioni, on June 10th and 11th in Pontedera (Pisa), the Ponyadi, the most beautiful fest dedicated to the young athletes, on August 30th and September 1st in Arezzo, and the National Championships, October 19th to 22nd in Buscate (Milan).
COPPA DELLE REGIONI
Let’s go in chronological order. The Coppa delle Regioni is the moment when regional committees put a spotlight on their youngest champions, as the competition is dedicated to “junior” athletes only. For children, this is the moment to show off their region’s colour with proud, while for the older athletes it represents the first real test bed before the National Championships, a chance to try new categories and face distant competitors.
PONYADI
What to say about the Ponyadi? The most joyful of the events! Three days of competitions dedicated only to children and their lovely ponies. For every kid, to participate is a unique experience that everyone should try at least once. The parade, the lighting of the torch, … a real daydream!
Video Ponyadi Opening Day 2017 Powered by Equitatus- Arezzo 30/08/2017
ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS
The most awaited event comes in October, the conclusion of a year of hard work, efforts and dedication. To be selected is already an achievement, because athletes need to get a minimum score to qualify. Everyone is there. There is a huge public, famous judges, it is THE competition, where everyone shows their value. However, most of all it is once more a party where the end is just the beginning because during the final victory lap everyone is already thinking about the theme for the following year, about new moves, about new goals that only wait to be achieved.
We would love to acknowledge all the participants, because everyone deserves it, but it is not possible. The categories and the participants are many (too many) for us to be able to report all the results integrally. Therefore, we refer you to the designated section of our website. Here we can only recognize the vaulters who made it to the podium (even in fourth place) in all the three main competition. They are (in alphabetical order) Marika Anselmi, Alessia Bovati, Arianna Brogi, Tommaso Comi, Sofia Crippa, Arianna Di Paola, Giorgia Perini, Arianna Siliberti e Giorgia Varisco.
Their results, categories, lungers and horses are all detailed below.
We wish everyone a long and successful vaulting career.
