A new era and a new rebrand for UIPM and modern pentathlon

With just over a year to go ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) and World Obstacle have announced an exciting rebrand of two major Obstacle events.

The events are now called the World Obstacle UIPM 2023 OCR World Championships and the World Obstacle UIPM 2023 Ninja World Cup USA.

Both federations’ names are now featured in the official titles.

Obstacle replaced horse riding as the fifth discipline for modern pentathlon late last year. The Paris 2024 Games will be the final major event to include horse riding as one of the five disciplines.

The three UIPM Pentathlon World Championships this summer will be the first of their kind, and the first global competitions to include the new obstacle format.

“Our partnership with World Obstacle is a significant step,” said UIPM President Dr. Klaus Schormann in a statement.

“Through this partnership we can demonstrate UIPM is getting actively involved in the Obstacle racing scene, and are creating new pathways for athletes ready to transfer their skills to a new challenge.”

World Obstacle President Ian Adamson was equally excited for the future of his sport.

“Obstacle athletes and national federations are collaborating with their pentathlete colleagues in many countries, and are excited for the possibilities this collaboration presents.”

The World Obstacle UIPM 2023 Ninja World Cup USA is first on the calendar, taking place July 27-30 in Orlando, Fla. The World Obstacle UIPM 2023 OCR World Championships will be held in Genk, Belgium from September 14-17 as the UIPM works hard to secure their place in the LA28 Summer Olympics and beyond.