2022 European Championships: Maiden golds for Follett (GBR) and Bereczki (HUN)

Photo credit: HMPA / Virág Buza

Two of Modern Pentathlon’s emerging talents defeated a high-quality field to become individual champions for the first time at the 2022 European Championships in Szekesfehervar (HUN).

Charlie Follett led an impressive team effort by Great Britain to win the Women’s Final on September 18, with team-mate Joanna Muir (GBR) claiming silver and Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion Kate French (GBR) finishing 5th.

World No.1 Michelle Gulyas of Hungary added to her burgeoning tally of major medals with the bronze, with Ieva Serapinaite of Lithuania coming 4th and Sarolta Simon (HUN) completing the top six.

Photo credit: HMPA / Virág Buza

Later in the day, Richard Bereczki (HUN) delivered a champagne moment for the host nation as he claimed Men’s Final gold and celebrated on the podium with team-mate Balazs Szep (HUN), who took silver ahead of bronze medallist Maksym Aharushev of Ukraine.

Lukasz Gutkowski of Poland was 4th and Christopher Patte of France and Bence Demeter (HUN) occupied the next two places.

Photo credit: HMPA / Virág Buza

With the format mirroring the new Pentathlon World Championships and Paris 2024 Olympic Games format, all individual athletes competed in Qualification and Semi-finals to reach the 18-strong Final line-up.

The Women’s Team medals went to Great Britain (gold), Hungary (silver) and Lithuania (bronze), while Hungary (gold), France (silver) and Czech Republic (bronze) claimed the Men’s Team medals.

Photo credit: HMPA / Virág Buza

The championships closed with the Mixed Relay on September 19, won by French (GBR) and Myles Pillage (GBR) ahead of Italy (Alessandra Frezza & Matteo Cicinelli) and France (Marie Oteiza & Ugo Fleurot).

Earlier in the week, Lithuania (Elzbieta Adomaityte & Ieva Serapinaite) won the Women’s Relay ahead of Poland and Czech Republic, who won gold in the Men’s Relay thanks to Jan Kuf and Martin Vlach. Poland and France completed the Men’s Relay podium.

Martin Dawe, UIPM Executive Board Member for Marketing, who attended the championships, said: “We saw some exceptional competition throughout the 2022 European Championships and, as always, the Hungarian Modern Pentathlon Federation organised a high-quality event that was enjoyed by both athletes and spectators.

“Finals day was particularly memorable, with excellent performances in weather that felt like a mix of four seasons. Congratulations to all countries who enjoyed success at the 2022 European Championships.”

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