Palo Alto, CA—March 13, 2003—Mari Inouye of Palo Alto, CA, the 2001 American Vaulting Association (AVA) National Women’s Champion, will compete as an individual at the CVI** in Nitra, Slovakia, April 25-27, 2003.

The celebrated star of the Sundance Vaulting Club in Woodside, CA, Inouye will travel to Slovakia with two horses owned by Phoebe Hearst Cooke of Woodside in order to compete with some of the best vaulters in the world.

“This is great opportunity for Mari,” said Frank Lloyd, United States Equestrian Team (USET) Chairman of the Board. “As with all our equestrian disciplines, it’s very important for individual vaulters to travel overseas to compete internationally. Mari has shown herself to be one of this country’s best, and this European experience is sure to be of great benefit to her.”

Inouye, a former gymnast, dazzled the audience two years ago with her spectacular performance at the AVA National Vaulting Championships winning the individual Gold Medal and becoming the Women’s National Champion. Her trip to Slovakia is sure to add to her already impressive background.

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