Sixteen-year-old Sahara Weil, a dedicated equestrian vaulter from Bellingen, is making waves internationally despite facing substantial challenges in her journey to represent Australia at the Junior World Championships in Stadl-Paura, Austria.
Sahara, a CVIJ2* vaulter, is the first Australian junior in nearly five years to qualify for the championships, achieving this milestone under extraordinary circumstances.
Living on an eight-acre organic hobby farm with her family, Sahara’s commitment extends beyond the picturesque landscapes of Bellingen to the competitive arenas of Europe.
“Sahara’s journey is a powerful narrative of resilience and passion,” her mother, Susan Weil said.
“After a challenging year that included the loss of her training horse and a severe injury, Sahara travelled alone to Italy, quickly adapting to new coaches, horses, and a foreign language.”
In May, at her first competition in Portogruaro, Italy, Sahara astonishingly secured a second-place finish among 38 international competitors.
“The odds were against her, but her performance spoke volumes of her determination,” her Italian coach said.
Only weeks later, Sahara scored a 6.6 in Budapest, Hungary, surpassing the required 6.5 to qualify for the World Championships.
Equestrian vaulting, a blend of gymnastics and dance performed on horseback, remains relatively unknown in Australia compared to its popularity in Europe.
Sahara’s coach explains, “This sport demands not just physical strength but a profound harmony with the horse, making it both challenging and beautiful.”
The local community and Sahara’s supporters are rallying to raise funds to support her training and travel expenses.
“We are aiming to raise $60,000 to cover her preparations and participation in the championships,” Susan said.
“Every bit of support will equip her better against the well-funded European competitors.”
Sahara said she hopes to travel back to Italy over the summer school holidays from December – January and then return to Italy in May 2025 to train with her coach and compete in several European competitions in preparations for the Junior Worlds in Austria at the end of July.
You can follow Sahara’s journey through her Instagram page @saharaweilvaults.
For those interested in supporting Sahara’s journey to the Junior World Championships, contributions can be made through https://asf.org.au/projects/sahara-weil/sahara-is-going-to-the-junior-world-championships-in-equestrian-vaulting
Or for more information on how to support Sahara, please contact Susan Weil at susan@weilhouseliving.com.au