The introduction of the new vaulting table was quite a revolutionary step in gymnastics, and the powers that be are sure it will make gymnastics even more popular by lifting the level of vaulting to new heights (literally!), thus making the competition even more exciting and able to meet the demands over the ever hungry public.

Well, something like that anyway.

The vaulting tables themselves have not had much exposure yet and are quite shy, not being used to so much fan adoration. In fact, they have only just begun setting up their authorized websites!

So, we Gymworld lot consider ourselves really lucky that we had the chance of chatting with one of the vaulting tables recently. A PEGASES, the Dutch made model that will be used in Ghent. Shy and nervous in the beginning, Pegases quickly became rather outspoken…

Gymworld: Hi there, so you are the guy who is going to revolutionize vaulting for ever and make the sport more dynamic and exciting and…
Pegases: Ummm, yeah, I guess so (giggles and blushes)

Gymworld: The question everybody has been asking: Why are you called PEGASES and not Pegasus?
Pegases: Ummm, well, dunno, I guess because I, like, can't 't fly?

Gymworld: Yeah, but the gymnasts will fly over you in their effort to defy gravity and revolutionize the sport for ever and make it more attractive for the media and…
Pegases: Ummm, that's what you think (laughs). But most of them will probably end up clinging to me like flies!

Gymworld: That's not very pro-gymnastics!
Pegases: Oh, but of course it is! Isn't that what the public wants? None of this ninny stuff like warm ups and all that crap the FIG used to indulge in. Risk, crashes, blood! All sandwiched into nice little made-for-TV packages with enough time for the ace bandage and Mc Donald's adds. That's the only way to get sponsorship these days. The more sponsors there are, the more money left over for the important federation officials. And the gymnasts won't have to stay in cheap hotels either.

Gymworld: I heard the Romanian federation wasn't too happy about your debut at Worlds?
Pegases: Pah! They're just a pack of old fashioned hardliners. They didn't even want to drop one touch warm ups. Risk of injury. Pah! That's what people want - blood, crashes, tears… (gets a dazed look and is silent for a while). Whatever, they just don't like my cool modern spaceship design. No wonder, all they have over there is grey pre-fabs and horrible little cars… They should go out and get themselves some decent leos. That would be a start!

Gymworld: I heard there are a few of you hanging around a Ukrainian airport?
Pegases: Yup, nobody showed up to take them home, those poor babies must be so lonely (wipes away tear). I'm sick and tired of these kangaroo federations not being able to resolve their tax issues. If they haven't got any money in their pouch, they just can't be hopping around the world…

Gymworld: Don't you sometimes get hung over from all those twists?
Pegases: Well, you know, those are the tough sides of the job. Injuries are just a part of my job and you learn to deal with the physical pain. It is hard sometimes, especially when you have vaulters from third world countries like Malaysia, the Sahara, India or even Austria or Switzerland. Apart from that I suffer from pneumoconiosis from all the chalk dust and lots of bruises from when the gymnasts hit me. But I have worked hard to accept it as a challenge and work through it and, you know, come back a stronger vaulting table.

Gymworld: But aren't there perks to the job as well?
Pegases: Oh yeah, sure. I mean, like, when I can look down the girls cleavage when they go over. Pant, drool (Lears at passing Jana Komrskova). But really, with most of them it's not worth it.

Gymworld: Ugh! What sort of sexist bastard are you then?
Pegases: A Pegases, you already said that. I'm just a plain stalker, that's it…

Gymworld: What are you afraid of ?
Pegases: Only Arabian doubles...

Gymworld: What about your plans for the future? Any specific competitions you're aiming at?
Pegases: Oh, you know, like, the main thing is that I go out and do my job and have fun. That's the most important part. I don't want to think about a particular competition and whether I get used or not and stuff. I'm here to enjoy myself. You know, I used to be real nervous before they picked which vaulting tables got to go to which competitions, but now I found all these inspiring web sites by level nines and stuff. I go online a lot and check them out and that has, like, really helped me calm down. Definitely, now I just want to have fun. (Laughs)

Gymworld: Do you worry about your direct competition like the Ergojet?
Pegases: No, I'm calm about that. Like I said, I'm not, like, really hyper about meets anymore. Ergojet and I recently hung out together at an FIG presentation of the new vaulting table and he's cool. We laughed a lot, you wouldn't think that because he's German and all. We're fighters on the floor, sure, we both want to get into as many competitions as possible. But it's really friendly between us. I was the first to comfort him when he wasn't chosen for Ghent. He was really upset, he even cried.
I have a manager now, a Mr. Schwerholz, to sort of increase my profile. Apart from that: Jets are kinda unpopular now, huh?

Gymworld: Can we take a quick photo?
Pegases: No, no photos. It says so on your credential! You should know that. Sorry. No videos either, you know, copyright stuff. You better pack your camera away or it might be confiscated.

Gymworld: Well thanks for this little chat. It was very insightful.
Pegases: Umm, yeah, you're welcome, I guess...