Road to Paris: UIPM releases 2023 competition key dates

• Olympic qualification journeys mapped out for elite pentathletes
• Quest for 72 places at Paris 2024 kicks off in Cairo (EGY) in March
• Schedule traverses Europe, Asia, Africa and South America

UIPM has released competition dates for 2023 as Modern Pentathlon begins another Olympic qualification journey.

While the sport is undergoing a long-term transition with the adoption of Obstacle, most senior athletes remain focused on the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which will be the last to include Riding.

The official ‘Road to Paris’ begins with the season-opening UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo in March, and the circuit continues through Ankara (TUR), Budapest (HUN) and Sofia (BUL), with the season’s best 72 performers qualifying for the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Cup Final.

That competition in Ankara (TUR) will closely resemble the Paris 2024 Olympic competition, with the new 90-minute showpiece format that was successfully introduced in the 2022 season. The 36 female and 36 male athletes will compete in Semi-finals with only 18 per gender reaching the Final.

The showpiece competition of next season will be the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships in Bath (GBR) in August, while many athletes will be targeting their continental championships in the hope of securing the coveted prize of a place in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The official Paris 2024 pictogram for Modern Pentathlon

The maximum number of automatic quota places for Paris 2024 on offer at individual competitions (per gender) is as follows:

• UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Cup Final (1)
• UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Championships (3)
• 2023 African and Oceania Championships (2)
• 2023 Asian Games (5)
• 2023 European Games (8)
• 2023 Pan American Games (5)
• UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Championships (3).

As host nation, France is guaranteed at least one place per gender. Click here to see the full qualification system for Modern Pentathlon at Paris 2024.

In 2023 there will be additional opportunities for athletes to earn points towards the UIPM Olympic Pentathlon World Ranking List, with ranking competitions taking place in Budapest (HUN), Drzonkow (POL),  Madrid (ESP), Bishkek (KGZ) and Cairo (EGY). Click here to see the full competition calendar.

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “One month ago we had a historic UIPM Congress where our global community voted for change. I assure our senior pentathletes that nothing will compromise their road to qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the next two seasons, and everything will be done to make sure the competition in Versailles is a true showcase of our sport.

“I thank everybody who is involved in preparations for Paris 2024, which will be a very special Olympic Games held in the home city of the founder of Modern Pentathlon, Baron Pierre de Coubertin.”

Modern Pentathlon in 2023 – major competitions

Mar 7-12: UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo (EGY)

Apr 11-16: UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Cup Ankara (TUR)

Apr 25-30: UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest (HUN)

May 9-14: UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Cup Sofia (BUL)

May 31 - Jun 4: UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Cup Final (Ankara, TUR)

Jun 25 - Jul 1: 3rd European Games (Krakow, POL)

Jul 12-16: UIPM 2023 Pentathlon U17 World Championships (Alexandria, EGY)

Jul 26-30: UIPM 2023 Pentathlon U19 World Championships (Istanbul, TUR)

Aug 19-28: UIPM 2023 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships (Bath, GBR)

Sep 6-11: 2023 African and Oceania Championships (Cairo, EGY)

Sep 12-17: UIPM 2023 Pentathlon Junior World Championships (Druskininkai, LTU)

Sep 20-24: 19th Asian Games (Hangzhou, CHN)

Oct 21-27: 19th Pan American Games (Santiago, CHI)

Download the Watch out for 2023 poster!