| Modern pentathlon at the Summer Olympics | |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
| IOC Code | MPN |
| Governing body | UIPM |
| Events | 2 (men: 1; women: 1) |
| Summer Olympics | |
Modern pentathlon is a sport contested at theSummer Olympic Games.
Modern pentathlon was created by the founder of the modern Games, BaronPierre de Coubertin, and was first contested in1912.[1][2] Coubertin was inspired by thepentathlon event inAncient Olympic Games, which was modeled after the skills of the ideal soldier at the time. Modern pentathlon was also influenced by the tradition of civilian and military multi-sport events in Sweden at the beginning of the 20th century.[3] It combined events that were considered to be of upper-class origin likeépée fencing,pistol shooting andriding with more popular ones likerunning andswimming.[3]
The five events making up modern pentathlon are:
After more than half a century of relative stability, modern pentathlon has been the subject of numerous changes since the 1980s with its place on the Olympic programme in question several times.[4]
Beginning at the1996 Summer Olympics, the five components were held on a single day instead of five.[2] The same year, the Men's team competition was dropped from the Olympics. The women's event was first introduced at the2000 Summer Olympics.[1] Since the2008 Summer Olympics, the air-pistol shooting is held during the 3 km run.[2] Since the2012 Summer Olympics, shooting is done using a laser gun,[2] and running and shooting was combined as one event.[5]
Modern pentathlon was still criticized as outdated and lacking popularity in the 2010s.[6] TheAssociated Press reported in 2013 that theInternational Olympic Committee was considering dropping it from the Olympics.[6] In response to the criticism, the sport's governing body, theUIPM, made changes to the sport, including by having all five contests held in a single stadium. It was planned for the2016 Summer Olympics but held for the first time at the2020 Summer Olympics.[6]
In the 2024 Paris Olympics, the modern pentathlon events were held in the following order: riding, fencing bonus round, swimming, and then the laser run (combined running and shooting). This differs from the previous order where riding was the penultimate event. The change in the order was implemented to address issues with horses in previous Olympics, where the random assignment of horses sometimes negatively impacted medal contenders. By placing riding first, the potential for a late-race upset due to a horse refusal is lessened.[7][8]
The events of modern pentathlon at the Olympic Games were as follows:
| Event | 1912 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 | 2000 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Épée Fencing | Round-robin | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Round-robin & bonus | ● | ● |
| Swimming | 300 m | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 200 m | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Riding | Cross-country | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Show Jumping | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
| Shooting | Pistol | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | Air Pistol | ● | ● | ● | ● | Laser | ● | ● | ● |
| Cross Country Running | 4000 m | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | 3000 m | ● | ● | ● | 3200 m | ● | ● |
| Venues | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
The horse riding event in modern pentathlon has been debated - for different reasons - since the invention of the sport.[4] Coubertin and the organisers of the 1912 Summer Olympics had different views on the availability of horses: Coubertin wanted randomly assigned horses provided by the hosts while the Swedish committee preferred that the competitors bring their own horses.[3]
For the1988 Summer Olympics cross-country riding was changed to show jumping.
In November 2021, UIPM announced that show jumping would not be a part of the Olympic modern pentathlon starting from the2028 Summer Olympics, which was connected to an incident in the 2020 Games where German women's coachKim Raisner had punched pentathleteAnnika Schleu's horse.[9] In response, 650 pentathletes put their names on a letter criticizing the lack of collaboration with them and asking for UIPM executives to resign, with UIPM stating it will discuss the matter with them.[10]
Modern pentathlon has been on the Olympic program continuously since 1912. A women's event was not included until the 2000 Games.
| Event | 12 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's individual | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 26 |
| Men's team | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 11 | |||||||||||||||
| Women's individual | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total Events | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Sources:[11]
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Hungary (HUN) | 10 | 8 | 6 | 24 |
| 2 |  Sweden (SWE) | 9 | 7 | 5 | 21 |
| 3 |  Soviet Union (URS) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 15 |
| 4 |  Great Britain (GBR) | 4 | 2 | 3 | 9 |
| 5 |  Russia (RUS) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 |  Poland (POL) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 |  Italy (ITA) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
| 8 |  Germany (GER) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 9 |  Lithuania (LTU) | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
| 10 |  Egypt (EGY) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 |  Czech Republic (CZE) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 |  Australia (AUS) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Kazakhstan (KAZ) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 14 |  United States (USA) | 0 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 15 |  France (FRA) | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 16 |  Finland (FIN) | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 17 | Czechoslovakia (TCH) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
 Unified Team (EUN) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 19 |  China (CHN) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Japan (JPN) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Latvia (LAT) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 Ukraine (UKR) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 23 |  Belarus (BLR) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
 South Korea (KOR) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
| 25 |  Brazil (BRA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Mexico (MEX) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (26 entries) | 44 | 44 | 44 | 132 | |
| Nation | 96 | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Australia | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 19 | |||||||||||
 Austria | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
 Bahrain | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Belarus | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Belgium | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brazil | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||
 Bulgaria | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Canada | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Chile | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| China | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Chinese Taipei | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Cuba | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Czech Republic | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Czechoslovakia | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Denmark | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
 East Germany | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Ecuador | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Egypt | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
 Estonia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Finland | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
| France | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 25 | |||||
 Georgia | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 United Team of Germany | 3 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Germany | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||
| Great Britain | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 26 | ||||
 Greece | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Guatemala | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hungary | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 22 | ||||||||
 Ireland | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Italy | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 25 | |||||
| Japan | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 13 | |||||||||||||||||
| Kazakhstan | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Kyrgyzstan | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Latvia | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Lithuania | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Morocco | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mexico | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 21 | |||||||||
 Netherlands | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
 New Zealand | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Norway | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Peru | 1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Poland | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 15 | |||||||||||||||
 Portugal | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Romania | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Russia | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 ROC | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 South Africa | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South Korea | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Soviet Union | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Spain | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Suriname | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sweden | 12 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 22 | ||||||||
 Switzerland | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 15 | |||||||||||||||
 Thailand | 1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Tunisia | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Turkey | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ukraine | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unified Team | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 25 | |||||
 Uruguay | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Uzbekistan | 2 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West Germany | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nations | 10 | 7 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 16 | 16 | 19 | 16 | 23 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 26 | 30 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 31 | 32 | 62 | ||||
| Athletes | 32 | 23 | 38 | 37 | 24 | 42 | 45 | 51 | 40 | 60 | 37 | 48 | 59 | 47 | 43 | 52 | 65 | 66 | 32 | 48 | 64 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 823+ | ||||
| Year | 96 | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 20 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 96 | 00 | 04 | 08 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | |
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