2nd FISU World University Championships Modern Pentathlon to be held in Kaunas (LTU) in 2024

Student athletes will become pioneers in Obstacle Laser Run when the 2nd FISU World University Championships Modern Pentathlon takes place in Kaunas (LTU) in 2024.

The competition was inaugurated in Budapest (HUN) in 2018 with the intention of being hosted every four years, before the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the sequence. Two-time senior world champion Elena Micheli of Italy and Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist Ahmed Elgendy of Egypt were among the individual medallists in 2018.

Obstacle Laser Run is one of several new multi-sport permutations enabled by the integration of Obstacle into Modern Pentathlon, providing a highly accessible and dynamic format.

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “Modern Pentathlon has always been strongly aligned to education, with a large proportion of pentathletes training and competing during university courses and going on to have successful professional careers both inside and outside of the movement.

“I am delighted that the FISU World University Championships Modern Pentathlon will return in 2024 for its second instalment, enabling student athletes from around the world to gather in a highly competitive and social environment where they can test the exciting new format Obstacle Laser Run.  The development of UIPM’s worldwide partnership with universities is facilitated by the integration of Obstacle, making our sport more accessible globally.

“Lithuania is a very active nation within our movement and I have no doubt the 2024 competition in Kaunas will be arranged at the same high level as the UIPM 2023 Junior World Championships in Druskininkai, with the UIPM 2024 U19 World Championships also heading to Lithuania.”

FISU Sports Director Juan Carlos Holgado added: “After the pandemic break, FISU is delighted to offer university athletes in Modern Pentathlon a high-level international event to challenge their performance in the 2024 season with a World Championships in Lithuania.

“We know that the sport is under a critical renovation process, and we are proud to support the UIPM in its efforts to move Modern Pentathlon to the next level. This championship is another fantastic opportunity to evaluate the recent changes and find any possible room for improvement.

“FISU is pleased to assist development efforts proposed by our partners, the international federations, by testing rules, new sports equipment, new technologies, results systems or even new disciplines in our events. This is the case with UIPM and is a clear example where FISU supports innovation in the sport through a fruitful partnership with its stakeholders supported by the FISU family.

“I am convinced this will be a successful event in all areas due to the close collaboration between our University Sports Federation in Lithuania, the Lithuania Modern Pentathlon Federation and UIPM.”