Norway’s Sebastian Sponevik is springing into the European Championships that start Monday in Leipzig with aspirations for a vault medal and recent international results to substantiate them.

Sponevik claimed bronze on vault and placed eighth on floor exercise at the World Cup on Antalya in March, and he took silver on vault and was seventh on still rings at the World Challenge Cup of Varna earlier this month. Such results bode well for the 21-year-old who arrives in Leipzig with distinct potential for a podium finish on vault.

Born March 15, 2005, in Lorenskog, Sponevik trains at Hoppensprett Turn in Jessheim, where he is coached by Espen Jansen, an 11-time Norwegian all-around champion, winner of 96 Norwegian national gold medals and 14-time world championships competitor.

Sponevik won all-around gold at the 2022 Nordic Junior Championhips, and silver on vault at the 2022 Junior European Championships in Munich. In Sponevik’s senior debut year of 2023, he took silver on vault at the World Challenge Cup of Varna, fourth on vault at the World Challenge Cup of Paris, 12th on vault in qualifications at Europeans in Antalya and 14th on vault in qualifications at the World Championships in Antwerp. Last year Sponevik won all-around silver at the Northern European Championships in Dublin, where be earned gold on vault and silver on floor exercise.

In this International Gymnast Online interview during a training break in Leipzig, Sponevik forecasts his chance for success at Europeans and going forward.

IGO: What do you feel you will need to fight for a medal at the European Championships?

SS: First of all I’m focusing on doing two good vaults. It’s hard to be able to get a medal, but I will just be focusing on doing my best and getting the best landings I possibly can get.

IGO: Your current vaults are a Dragulescu and a Kasamatsu with full twist; when you review your recent performances, how can you still improve them?

SS: There’s always room to improve. Especially on the Kasamatsu 2.5 I have to keep my legs together from the board to get it cleaner. And of course I can get better landings and get rid of the small deductions. 

IGO: Although your current vaults are indeed competitive, and it would be hard to upgrade from a Dragulescu, are you planning any upgrades, especially to your second vault?

SS: Yes, I have plans on doing a harder second vault. I just got the Dragulescu ready for the World Cup in Antalya. After that I have done it plenty of times and I’m starting to get comfortable with it. For the second vault I have trained a Kasamatsu triple twist, but I don’t think it’s quite ready for the European Championships. 

IGO: As a junior you won the Nordic all-around title, but in your senior years, you have not often competed all-around internationally. Have you intentionally selected only some of the apparatuses to compete as a senior, or are you still training all six apparatuses and anticipate competing all-around again?

SS: Yes. Last year I was injured almost the whole season, but I actually competed all-around at the Northern European Championships. I have always been pushing all-around and that’s my plan for the future.

IGO: Your team finished 16th at the previous two European Championships. In your view, how do those results represent progress despite the same ranking in both years? 

SS: As a team we have struggled a lot especially on pommel horse, but over the years we have slowly built up the difficulty. We are not near the top yet, but we are always looking to improve as a team and individually. 

IGO: How often do the gymnasts on the national team train together, and what suggestions do you have for building an even stronger team in this 2028 Olympic cycle?

SS: We train together a couple times a year and have a training camp together before a big competition. Usually everyone trains at their own gym.

IGO: What factors have contributed to your particular success on vault – natural talent for the apparatus, a special enjoyment of the apparatus, specialized training for it, or perhaps some combination of things?

SS: It’s hard to say, but I have always liked training vaults and for it took me years to get the Roche vault (handspring double front) good. Consistency and hard work have been a big part in the success I have made on vault. 

International Gymnast Online’s other features on Norwegian gymnasts include:

International Gymnast magazine’s features on Norwegian gymnasts include:

“Espen Jansen’s Boys” – feature on young Norwegian club gymnasts (July/August 2017)

“Scouting Scandinavia” – IG’s visit to clubs in Norway and Sweden (March 2011)

“Elder Statesman” – Espen Jansen profile (May 2009)

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