About
A young French cavalry officer of the 19th century was sent
on horseback to deliver a message. He rode across the uneven terrain, through
enemy lines, and was confronted by a soldier with his sword drawn. Challenged to
a duel, the officer won, only to have his horse shot out from under him by
another enemy soldier.
After felling that soldier with a single shot, the officer
ran on. He swam across a raging river, and then finally he delivered the
message. So, legend has it, was born the modern pentathlon.
The brainchild of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the
modern Olympic Games, the event was based upon the unlucky officer and
introduced into the Stockholm Games of 1912. Only remotely resembling the
ancient pentathlon inspired by the warmongering Spartans, modern pentathletes
shoot, fence, swim, compete in show jumping and run - five events testing
endurance as well as athletic versatility.
Competition
Previously held over four to five days, the modern
pentathlon reverted to its true character at the Atlanta Games in 1996 with a
one-day event. The pattern continued at Sydney and will be the same during the
Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Shooting comes first. The pentathletes have 40 seconds to
fire 20 shots from an air pistol at a 17cm-square target from 10 metres. Fencing
follows, with a round-robin competition between each participant. Swimming is
third, a freestyle race over 200 metres, with athletes seeded in heats according
to their personal best times. Once they have dried off, the pentathletes head to
the show jumping ring, where they have 20 minutes to get to know the horse
before riding. The final event is the 3000m run, with the pentathletes set off
at intervals corresponding to their points so the first person across the line
wins the gold medal.
Both women and men compete in this sport.
List of events
-- Individual competition Men
-- Individual competition Women
Credit: IOC
For further info., please visit http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/programme/index_uk.asp?SportCode=MP.
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