UIPM 2023 Laser Run World Championships: Slick Salomo (ESP) wins Men’s Individual gold

The UIPM 2023 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships continued today with 11 world champions crowned in the Men’s Individual Laser Run categories.

Pau Salomo of Spain upstaged two higher-profile pentathletes with a clinical victory, showing the importance of shooting as he held off the challenge of Alexandre Dallenbach of Switzerland, who in turn forced Shuai Luo of China to accept bronze.

Dallenbach (SUI) recently earned a quota place at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games for his country, while Luo (CHN) is an Asian champion in Modern Pentathlon who became an Olympian at Tokyo 2020. So it was a remarkable performance by Salomo (ESP) in racing twice in one day and very nearly going under the 10min mark in the Final.

Egypt dominated the youth categories with four gold medals, while the Spanish came away with a double gold and host nation Great Britain won eight individual medals including one gold. There was also one gold medal apiece for France and Monaco.

One of the day’s best performances came in the Junior category from Ivan Liberal (ESP), who fought off the dual local challenge of Sam Cobb (GBR) and James Hulme (GBR). But the home fans got their golden moment when U17 champion Sebastian Forrest (GBR) led a British 1-2-3.

At U11 level there was a thrilling duel won by Eyad Osman (EGY) ahead of Wanru Haasbroek of South Africa, while Abdallah Abdallah (EGY) shot with sublime speed on the way to winning U13 gold and Mohamed Sherif (EGY) was utterly dominant in the U19 Final.

European athletes dominated the Masters podium, with a strong contingent from France showing the importance of strength in depth including a 1-2 from Julien Bartoli (FRA) and Jean-Luc Sintes (FRA) at 40+.

Three days of Laser Run action are bringing athletes of all generations together as they compete for world titles in age grades from Under 9 to Masters 70+, with a Para Laser Run race taking place on the final day. 

With more than 560 athletes representing 33 countries, the eighth instalment of the Laser Run World Championships is a global showcase of UIPM’s most popular development sport.

Champions’ reaction

Senior gold medallist Salomo (ESP) said: “It was a very tough race, I had very good athletes behind me like Alex Dallenbach and Titas Puronas, and it was so hard. I had to push hard in running and I did it and now I’m world champion.

“If you want to win something, first of all you have to imagine it, then you have to believe it, then you have to do it.

“This is an amazing place to compete, England is one of the best countries in Modern Pentathlon and it’s an amazing pleasure to be here and I hope to come back in future. I want to thank my team who are here every day pushing me, and my family and friends who are at home watching me.”

Junior champion Liberal (ESP) said: “At the beginning I thought I was not going do it, but at the third shoot I put head into mode and then it flowed. I went into competition mode. I didn’t think I would become world champion, I would like to thank my support team and family.”

U19 winner Sherif (EGY) said: “The race was pretty comfortable, I’m very happy to win gold here in beautiful Bath. I’d like to thank all my family and my coaches, and I’m glad to be here with you.

“I really like the weather here, better than 40C in Egypt because here I can run comfortably. It was a pretty tough season and I’m so glad I made it.”

U17 gold medallist Forrest (GBR) said: “I just came out of the shoot and kept to my processes, I knew I had the run on the last lap so I just extended my stride with 300m to go.

“I only live half an hour away and I train here quite often. It’s a new course but I’m quite used to this track. I’d like to thank my family and my coaches.”

U13 winner Abdallah (EGY) said: “I’m so happy that I’m a world champion. I worked hard for this. I wanted to make a good gap so that if I didn’t shoot well, I could make up the gap on the run.

“I’d like to thank my mom and dad, my coaches and my federation especially President Sharif Elerian, who put the belief in me that I could be the world champion.”

U11 winner Osman (EGY) said: “I’m so happy and I thank everyone who was involved, my mum and dad and brother and a big team of coaches. I made a dream come true.”

Masters 50+ winner Denis Delusier (MON) said: “Everything happened after the shooting, I gave everything I had and it was a great finish. This is a wonderful event, fabulous organisation, and we’re all excited for the Pentathlon event. I thank all my team and our sponsors.”

Watch and follow

The UIPM 2023 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships can be watched live on UIPM TV, where annual subscriptions cost €14.99. All results are available on the UIPM website and via the UIPM Central app.

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The UIPM 2023 Laser Run World Championships runs from August 19-21, and the final day consists of Para Laser Run and Mixed Relays, with UIPM TV live coverage beginning at 9.55am (Central European Summer Time).