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With a hip new obstacle racing event and a prime place on the L.A. Olympics schedule, modern pentathlon is suddenly cool again. It’s been a while coming. A century after Pierre de Coubertin conjured up five tests of good modern soldiering — fencing, swimming, running, shooting, and horseback riding — and made the whole thing an Olympic sport, modern pentathlon was seen as a bit antiquated. But the sport has gotten a makeover — “Horses out, Ninja Warrior in,” as the Associated Press put it — and is already basking in the effect. Obstacle course racing takes many forms, some more extreme than others. (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via … More Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images In effect, obstacle course racing has replaced equestrian show jumping as one of modern pentathlon’s five events. The other four are still based on skills an overall soldier was thought to need circa 1912. Obstacle course racing, which does has military origins, adds a certain 21st century flavor. The new event, a 70 meter course with eight obstacles that elite athletes are clearing in 25-35 adrenaline-packed seconds, debuted in World Cup competition earlier this year. “Our athletes are the most versatile athletes in the Games,” proclaimed Rob Stull, president of the International Modern Pentathlon Union, the sport’s governing body known by its French acronym UIPM. That versatility has included athletes accepting the change after some initial consternation — among others, Tokyo Olympic champion Joe Choong led the opposition. Despite indicating that he would retire with the horses in Paris last summer, Choong has remained in the sport. “We have to accept it or move on,” he told the BBC earlier this year. And while he acknowledges that obstacle racing is “fun,” Choong is still warming to it. “It’s definitely something I’m going to…

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Filed under: News - @ May 20, 2025 12:27 am