The sport of modern pentathlon will have a different look at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, as horse riding is scheduled to be replaced with a still undecided discipline.
While the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) Treasurer John Helmick told Around the Rings last week the change is necessary for a variety of reasons, many athletes are upset with the decision and have made their objection quite clear to the UIPM board.
Several hundred modern pentathlon athletes, including both gold medalists from the Tokyo Games, have signed a letter of no confidence in UIPM president Klaus Schormann and the UIPM executive board and called for his and the board’s immediate resignation.
To that end, the UIPM said it would host a video call on Friday November 12 to gather the athletes’ feedback on which sport should replace horse riding.
Helmick told Around the Rings the decision to replace horse riding was not taken lightly and is necessary for the sport’s future.
“This was a tough decision to make. We’ve had riding in our sport for 109 years. We are the only sport created specifically for the Olympic Games. But the riding event has become a barrier for developing nations and poorer nations to compete in the sport. It also makes it difficult for countries to host our event. When you have barriers to your sport, that is not being aligned with the Olympic spirit,” Helmick said. “If we are testing the full athlete, then it is still modern pentathlon.”
Not everyone is against the change. Modern Pentathlon Australia supports the decision made up the UIPM and feels it will help secure the sport’s inclusion for Brisbane 2032 and beyond.
“Our sport is built on tradition and horse riding has been part of our sport at the Olympics since 1912; however our sport has evolved considerably in recent years, and we will continue to support further evolution of the modern pentathlon,” the group said in a statement.
While there is great confusion about what sport will replace horse riding, Schormann insists no decision has been made and they encourage feedback from the athletes. The UIPM is scheduled to decide during their congress November 27-28. They are also expected to reelect Schormann as UIPM president. The 75-year old German is running unopposed and has served as UIPM president since 1993.
KEEP READING:
Últimas Noticias
Sinner-Alcaraz, the duel that came to succeed the three phenomenons
Table tennis: Brazil’s Bruna Costa Alexandre will be Olympic and Paralympic in Paris 2024
Rugby 7s: the best player of 2023 would only play the medal match in Paris
Rhonex Kipruto, owner of the world record for the 10000 meters on the road, was suspended for six years
Katie Ledecky spoke about doping Chinese swimmers: “It’s difficult to go to Paris knowing that we’re going to compete with some of these athletes”
