Modern Pentathlon Feels Secure in its Mission

Three years after modern pentathlon survived the vote at the 117th IOC Session in Singapore that bumped softball and baseball off the Olympic program after Beijing, one of the sport's vice presidents says, "We are very comfortable in our skin."

Looking back on two very full days of Olympic competition, John Helmick tells Around the Rings, "We have a relevant place in the Olympic Movement. It's the only sport that was created by Pierre de Coubertin specifically to be on the Olympic program. We also understand that our sport will never be a sport like football or swimming or athletics. This will never be a mass sport and a popular sport. It's not supposed to be. It's supposed to be the test of the complete athlete, of mind and body."

Helmick says he believes the sport achieved that objective in Beijing, where Andrey Moiseev of Russia became the second man to repeat as Olympic champion in the men's event and Lena Schoneborn of Germany won the women's event.

He also says he doesn’t think modern pentathlon, modeled after a soldier’s mission to deliver a message, is in danger of being voted out of the Olympics.

"There is no fight," says Helmick, of the United States. "There was a moment in time when there was discussion about removing three sports – softball, baseball, and modern pentathlon (at the 2002 IOC Session in Mexico City). Over 40 IOC members stood up and spoke about the relevancy of modern pentathlon to the Olympic Movement."

Helmick, who is also chairman of the UIPM business affairs committee, tells ATR that the sport also felt more of a connection with the Games since the events were held on the Olympic Green instead of another area of the city. Shooting and fencing took place the Fencing Hall, swimming at Yingdong Natatorium and riding and running at the Olympic Sports Center Stadium.

"You're in the Olympics to be part of the Olympics, and being in sight of the flame is always enjoyable," he says.

In addition, the riding and running events were finally held in a stadium large enough to hold everyone who wanted to see them. All-day tickets were limited to 4,500 because of the smaller venue for shooting and fencing,Rainy weather during the men's competition made it hard for some pentathletes to compete. (Getty Images)but Olympic Sports Centre Stadium had an official capacity of 40,000 seats.

"It's a wonderful feeling for athletes to have large crowds," Helmick says.

In Atlanta, Sydney and Athens, seating was limited to 12,000 to 15,000 for the riding and running and tickets were sold out. The Beijing venue was also sold out, although there were some empty seats.

Contrasting weather

The men competed in a downpour during the final two events, riding and running, while the women had perfect conditions a day later.

Helmick says the weather did affect the outcome in the men's event because horses in the equestrian show jumping event react differently to rain and muddy ground conditions. "SomeThe women medalists in pentathlon. (Getty Images) horses don't like having the mud splatter up against them," he says.

In modern pentathlon, athletes draw for their horses, which are supplied by the Olympic organizers. "In theory, the horses are supposed to be of equal ability," Helmick says, "but I don't think they were ever tested in the rain."

One possible victim of the rain was David Svoboda of Czech Republic, who set an Olympic record for shooting points, then was thrown from his horse, knocking him out of medal contention.

"If you look at his past performances, his ride is not his strongest event," Helmick says. "When conditions make the course more challenging, the better riders do rise to the top."

Another event for the sport?

Since Athens in 2004, the number of athletes increased from 32 to 36 for both men and women. The women's event joined the Olympic program in 2000.

Modern pentathlon is hoping to add a mixed doubles relay event -- with one man and one woman on each team -- to the Olympic program in the future. The event is already part of the world championships.

"There would be no increase in the number of athletes in the Olympic Games," Helmick said. "There would still be 36 men and 36 women."

However, it would add one more day to the schedule.

There are currently 102 member federations in the UIPM and Helmick said three to five new countries have joined at each congress.

The introductory sport is biathle, a run-swim-run competition.

"We're using biathle to become more active in Africa, also in the Middle East," Helmick says. "In the Middle East, there's also a strong interest in the equestrian and fencing."

Written by ATR staff.