Modern Pentathlon

Modern pentathlon is meant to showcase strength, technique and stamina. It combines shooting, fencing, riding, swimming and cross-country running. These symbolize the story of a military courier who must deliver a message on horseback through enemy territory. After the courier lost his horse, he was forced to defend himself with his pistol and sword, swim a river and run across rough country terrain.

Modern pentathlon is often referred to as the “true Olympic sport” that most accurately involves the ideals of Olympism. It keeps the spirit of ancient pentathlon, introduced in 708 BC, which involved running, jumping, throwing a spear, tossing a discus and wrestling. Modern pentathlon, an Olympic and Pan American sport, requires the most varied skill set in its athletes.

In shooting, air pistols are used to fire 20 shots at 170-mm targets 10 metres away. Competitors have 40 seconds to fire each shot. In fencing, a round robin épée tournament consists of one-hit matches no longer than one minute. If no hit is scored, both competitors register a defeat. The swimming segment is a 200-metre freestyle race, with pentathletes seeded in heats according to personal best times.

In equestrian, riders have 20 minutes and five practice fences to familiarize themselves with their horses (provided by event organizers). The course is 350 to 450 metres long with 12 show-jumping obstacles, including one double and one triple combination. The competition ends with a 3,000-metre race that can be quite dramatic. Pentathletes start at intervals based on how many points they have and the athlete ahead of them. The first to cross the finish line wins the modern pentathlon.

Athletes

Comments (1)

You must be logged in to leave a comment.

Sign Up or Login

  • Older
  • jaivee

    jaivee - 2 months ago

    find pictures, videos and athlete profiles of Modern Pentathlon in the Modern Pentathlon Internet Community at http://www.modern-pentathlon.org

    Recommend