 | |
| Highest governing body | Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Semi-contact |
| Type | Fencing, swimming, show jumping, obstacle racing, shooting, and running sport |
| Presence | |
| Olympic | Part of Summer Olympic programme since 1912 |
The modern pentathlon is an Olympic multisport that currently consists of fencing (one-touch épée), freestyle swimming, equestrian show jumping, laser pistol shooting, and cross country running. Equestrian will be replaced by a form of obstacle course racing at the 2028 Summer Olympics.[1]
The event was first held in 1912, inspired by the traditional pentathlon held during the ancient Olympics, and designed to model skills needed by a soldier of that time. It has been a continuous part of the Summer Olympics since 1912, and a world championship has been held annually since 1949.
The rules of the modern pentathlon have changed several times, especially in the past three decades. The event has been condensed from five days to one day and further down to two hours. The latest structure, as of the 2024 Olympics, consists of separate events for fencing, swimming, and equestrian, points from which determine each athlete's starting time in the final event, the laser-run. Egypt has achieved consistent success across multiple age-group world championships, culminating in Ahmed El-Gendy winning the first Olympic gold medal by an African pentathlete at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[2] Hungary has won the most Olympic gold medals[3] after Michelle Gulyas became its second women’s Olympic champion at Paris 2024.[4]
The initial program of the 2028 Olympics did not include modern pentathlon, but the 141st IOC Session in Mumbai, India, voted to approve the inclusion of the sport with its new format where obstacle racing replaces equestrian.
Modern pentathlon's governing body, Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), administers the international sport with member federations in more than 130 countries.[5]
- ^ Ellingworth, James (8 August 2024). "Horses out, 'American Ninja Warrior' in. Olympic sport of modern pentathlon faces a big change". AP News. The Associated Press. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Modern Pentathlon: Elgendy wins first gold for Egypt". Reuters.
- ^ "Modern Pentathlon at Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Golden Gulyas (HUN) adds name to history books in Women's Final | Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM)". www.uipmworld.org. 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
- ^ Goulding, Grace (11 August 2024). "Paris 2024 Modern Pentathlon: All results as Hungary's Michelle Gulyas takes women's gold with world record". Olympics Paris 2024.
- ^ "Member federations | Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM)". www.uipmworld.org. Retrieved 2024-08-02.