UIPM 2021 Pentathlon World Cup Final: Qualified athletes

(updated: May 10, 2021)

• Reward for 72 athletes who earned right to compete in Szekesfehervar (HUN)
• Maximum six selections for Germany, Great Britain, Hungary and Mexico
• President Schormann praises qualifiers who overcame pandemic challenge

The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) has revealed the 72 athletes who have earned the right to compete in the UIPM 2021 Pentathlon World Cup Final.

The 36 female and 36 male pentathletes qualified for the showpiece competition, which will take place in Szekesfehervar (HUN) from May 13-16, according to their finishing places in the three Pentathlon World Cups that took place in 2021 and the one that took place in 2020, before the suspension of all UIPM activity due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.

The UIPM 2021 Pentathlon World Cup Final represents the penultimate opportunity for athletes to earn points towards the UIPM Olympic World Rankings, which will determine the remaining qualifiers for the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The final chance to qualify will come at the UIPM 2021 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships in Cairo (EGY) in June, where there will also be up to three automatic quota places available for Tokyo 2020 along with the ranking points.

Four countries – Germany, Great Britain, Hungary and Mexico – achieved a maximum six selections for the Pentathlon World Cup Final, while Belarus, Lithuania will field the maximum quota of three women and Egypt, France and Mexico will each be represented by three men. 

The highest-ranked athletes in the women’s list were Joanna Muir (GBR), Marie Oteiza (FRA) and Francesca Summers (GBR), while the top-ranked men were Woongtae Jun (KOR), Ilya Palazkov (BLR) and Adam Marosi (HUN).

The reigning world champions, Volha Silkina (BLR) and Valentin Belaud (FRA), were automatic qualifiers.

The withdrawal of Joseph Choong (GBR), Jun (KOR) and Martin Vlach of Czech Republic from the men’s event led to the inclusion of reserves, James Cooke (GBR), Ondrej Svechota (CZE) and Pierre Dejardin (FRA).

The withdrawal of Adelina Ibatullina of Russia, Elena Potapenko of Kazakhstan and Sunwoo Kim (KOR) from the women’s event led to the inclusion of Mariana Arceo (MEX), Sophia Hernandez of Guatemala and Elena Micheli of Italy.

As of May 4, 15 nations had confirmed participation in the Mixed Relay: Belarus, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland, Russia and Switzerland.

Jun Woongtae (left) and Joanna Muir (right) finished top of the men's and women's Pentathlon World Cup rankings

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “We are now entering the high point of the 2021 season where we will have three competitions of the highest prestige – the UIPM 2021 Pentathlon World Cup Final, the UIPM 2021 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 taking place in 2021.

“I congratulate all 72 athletes who have earned the right to compete in Pentathlon World Cup Final in Szekesfehervar. Not only have they performed well, they have overcome very difficult situations linked to the pandemic with limited opportunities to train and competing.

“I also congratulate all coaches, trainers and support staff who have helped these athletes to achieve something very special. We are very excited to see them compete for the title of Pentathlon World Cup Final champion in Hungary, where we will have finals for women and men and a Mixed Relay, which is so important to the future of our movement.”