UIPM 2015 World Cup #3 – Back to back! The champion claims another victory: Laura Asadauskaite

ROME, 10 APRIL 2015 – Laura Asadauskaite (Lithuania) completed a spectacular golden double by winning the Women’s Individual Final in the third leg of the 2015 UIPM World Cup Series in Rome, Italy.

Just last month, the Lithuanian topped the podium in Cairo at World Cup #2 coming from way down the field in the final Combined Event to take gold. But today the reigning Olympic champion showed just why she is considered a formidable pentathlete with a stunning victory that saw her go from 20th place to first place in a thrilling Combined Event where she overcame a huge 59 second gap on the then leader to cross the line in first.

Asadauskaite was joined on the podium by Zsofia Foldhazi (HUN) in second and Russian Donata Rimsaite (RUS) who took third.

But the day and the glory belong fully to the Lithuanian after another superb display. She said:

“My Fencing today was not so good with 15 wins and 20 losses and after the Swimming and Riding I never thought that I could reach first place.  

“I’m very happy with this result, it is beyond my wildest dreams. I still can’t believe it.”

For Zsofia Foldhazi second place was a fantastic achievement after missing part of the season through injury.

She said: “It has been a crazy day. It’s the first competition for me and my first World Cup and I can’t believe I got second place. It has been amazing, a very big relief for me but I am very happy with the result.”

Elena Rublevska (LAT) was the early leader of the day after winning 24 bouts in the Fencing Event, Donata Rimsaite (RUS) was second with 22 wins while just one win less with 21 saw Oktawia Nowacka (POL) sitting third.

Into the pool and Hungarian Sarolta Kovacs (HUN) was the fastest in a time of 2:10.42 to take first place in the event, leaving her second in the overall competiton.

It was Poland’s Nowacka (POL) who took the overall lead despite placing sixth in the swimming while home advantage appeared to be having an effect on Alice Sotero (ITA) who found herself sitting third on the leaderboard heading into the Riding arena.

A clear Riding round from Kovacs (HUN) saw the Hungarian take first place overall with previous leader Nowacka (POL) dropping to third as a result of picking up 23 penalty points.

Sotero (ITA) continued to be lifted by the support of the passionate Roman crowd and with just one knockdown went in to the final Combined Event sitting second overall and a very catchable six seconds behind leader Kovacs (HUN).

It was in the final event, however, where the action was red hot with Foldhazi (HUN) overtaking third placed Nowacka (POL) at the end of the first running loop.

By the third shooting station, a gutsy display from Foldhazi (HUN) saw her much fancied for gold as she took the lead ahead of fellow Hungarian Kovacs (HUN) and Italy’s Sotero (ITA).

However, at the third running loop Lithuanian Asadauskaite (LTA) came in to her own and despite the 59 second handicap stormed the field to find herself leading by the time she left the Shooting Range for the last time and she held on to cross the line in first place.

There was a tussle going on behind her for second between Foldhazi (HUN) and Iryna Prasiantsova (BLR), but the Hungarian kept her cool to take silver with Belarussian Prasiantsova just pipped for third by Rimsaite (RUS).

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann was full of praise for the performances put in by Asadauskaite and her fellow competitors.

He said: “Back in 2000 if someone is winning from 20th place that was quite normal as good runners were selected for the pentathlon, but nowadays where they are all so close together to see Laura come from the 20th place catching up with no miss in the shooting and such a great run at the end that when she finished she was just relaxed. It was quite amazing to watch.

“This is again a big lesson for everybody. You can see how strong she is and I think we are all very happy and satisfied to see that it is possible in our sport to come from behind to win.

“I would say that this beautiful ancient city and this stadium, where I myself competed a long time ago, is a special place for our competitions. These wonderful statues we are surrounded by create a beautiful ambience and a great atmosphere for all of us from athletes to spectators.

“We are now very much looking forward to tomorrow, but I have to say that we have seen a great competition today with great performances from the ladies and I am sure the men will try to do the same tomorrow.”

The Men’s Individual final follows tomorrow, Saturday (April 11) before the Mix-Relay closes the programme on Monday (April 13).  

Follow all the action of the this event at www.pentathlon.org, with on the hour updates through Facebook at www.facebook.com/modpen and Twitter at https://twitter.com/UIPM_HQ