Modern Pentathlon

The roots of Modern Pentathlon can be traced to the ancient Pentathlon, which included the following five disciplines: discus throw, javelin, long jump, the stadium-length race, and wrestling. The ancient Pentathlon was incorporated into the ancient Olympic Games in 708 B.C., where Lambis Lakedaimonios was crowned the first Olympic victor.

Pierre de Coubertin wished to include a combined sport into the programme of the modern Olympic Games, which would highlight the prototype of the multi- faceted “super athlete”, someone who combines strength, technique and a strong personality. Inspired by the ancient Pentathlon, he created the Modern pentathlon, a sport that combines technical disciplines such as Shooting, Fencing and Riding, together with strength and endurance disciplines like Swimming and Cross-country running.

The choice of these sports was based on the legend of a warrior who, having to convey a message to the rear of the fighting forces, had to battle on horseback with his pistol and sword. However, because his horse was killed in the process, he had to swim and run to complete his mission.

Description

The combination of five completely different sports constitutes Modern Pentathlon, the most demanding sport of the Olympic Games. Pentathletes compete in the course of one day, in the following five disciplines: Shooting, Fencing, Swimming, Riding, and Cross-country running. Modern Pentathlon men and women athletes need to have strength, endurance, quick reflexes and concentration, in order to meet the high demands of the sport.

Plato understandably made the following statement: “The philosopher lacks in specialised sciences but is good in all other social functions and expressions, and that is why he is the best among the educated, as is the pentathlete the best amongst all other athletes”.

History

Today, as in antiquity, pentathletes are renowned for the harmony and measure that is highlighted through their efforts to distinguish themselves in five completely different sports.

The men’s Modern pentathlon was included in the Olympic competition schedule at the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, while the women’s category was added for the first time at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

On an international level, the modern pentathlon is managed and administered by the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM), which was founded in 1948 and is based in the Principality of Monaco.