2002 World Equestrian Games

World Champions Retain Titles in Vaulting

by Charlene Strickland

The three World Champions established and maintained their leads September 11-14 in Jerez. Nadia Zulow won her third World Championship, Matthias Lang his second, and Germany's team won their fourth straight gold medal.

Zulow vaulted on Rubin's Universe, a Westfalen, with the longeur Agnes Werhahn. She began the competition with 8.765 in her Round 1 compulsories, starting out first over the 47 women. She retained first place with an outstanding freestyle, which one judge awarded an 8.980. Rikke Laumann of Denmark edged out Zulow in the Round 2 compulsories, with 8.937 over Zulow's 8.867.

Zulow kept the lead through the Round 2 freestyle to finish with 8.835. Laumann took the silver (8.555) and Ines Juckstock, Germany, the bronze (8.450). Zulow won golds in Rome (1998), Mannheim (2000), and now Jerez. "Since Rome, I planned to come here," she explained. "I am very proud to win my second World Championship in the World Equestrian Games," she said. "It's incredible and unbelievable for me." She described her training as "21 to 25 hours a week on gymnastics and stretching, and on my horse, 3 hours a week."

Now 25, Zulow hasn't yet decided if she will return to the 2006 WEG. "At the end of a year, I count the good and bad things of the year and decide to go on or not."