Tana Whinther, a 15-year-old athlete from West Jordan, Utah, excels in the sport of vaulting, which is a combination of gymnastics and horseback riding. She has been practicing vaulting since she was 4 years old and competes in the western region of the United States. Despite not having her own horse, Tana practices on a mechanical horse in her backyard and travels to Denver twice a month for training on a real horse.

Tana’s goal is to qualify for the Junior World Championships in vaulting and hopes to give back to the sport by coaching and lunging in the future. She is described as strong, aggressive, and graceful while competing, with a flowing style that impresses spectators. Tana had to choose between gymnastics and vaulting, ultimately deciding to pursue vaulting as it combines both disciplines.

Tana’s family does not have the means to afford a trained vaulting horse, which can cost around $30,000. To help Tana achieve her dream of becoming a vaulting champion, donations can be made to her GoFundMe account or through Venmo @brianwinther. Mountain America Credit Union has already made a $500 donation to support Tana in her athletic pursuits.