UIPM 2023 Laser Run World Championships: ‘A universal celebration of the glory of sport’

• Switzerland (Jurt/Dallenbach) seal senior Mixed Relay gold on final day
• Para Laser Run proves to be a big hit for inclusion in Bath (GBR)
• Egypt finish top of medal table across individual and relay categories

The eighth running of the UIPM Laser Run World Championships – held alongside the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Championships – has been hailed as a resounding success after the third and final day of competition.

Racers of all ages and abilities competed in 37 categories at the University of Bath, including three Para Laser Run categories.

The event reunited athletes of all generations as they competed for world titles in age grades from Under 9 to Masters 70+. With more than 560 athletes representing 33 countries, it was another global showcase of UIPM’s most popular development sport.

Switzerland finished their competition on a high with Katharina Jurt joining Men’s Individual silver medallist Alexandre Dallenbach in winning the Mixed Relay by 6sec from Tamara Vega and Lorenzo Macias of Mexico. Lithuania claimed bronze thanks to the dual efforts of Elzbieta Adomaityte and Titas Puronas.

Host nation Great Britain made hay on the final day with a batch of Mixed Relay medals including four golds in the U17, U19, Junior and Masters 60+ categories. Egypt was the most prolific nation across the Championships, winning 12 gold medals in total.

The final morning of the competition on August 21 provided a special highlight for spectators and UIPM TV viewers as Para athletes from Egypt, France and Great Britain competed in the first UIPM Para Laser Run World Championships to be live-streamed.

Individual races were held in the LR4 (wheelchair) category, with Hanin Elkhouly (EGY) becoming the new women’s world champion and Abdullah Abdelmawla (EGY) winning the men’s race. There was also a mixed gender / mixed classification event for 10 athletes with various physical and visual disabilities.

Andrew Collings, UIPM Para Pentathlon Commission Chair, said: “It was amazing to watch the Para Laser Run races today, and see the progress that has been made since last year. The team and athletes should all be very proud. 

“This is just the start, though, and UIPM together with all National Federations has ambitious plans to continue to grow in this space towards a hopeful inclusion in future Paralympics. Well done to the team.”

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “In the past three days in Bath we saw a fantastic presentation of the UIPM Laser Run World Championships for all generations, from U9 to Masters. This was a universal celebration of the glory of sport.

“We have fantastic facilities here at the University of Bath, and we had athletes competing and cheering each other on surrounded by parents and coaches. Laser Run is a very special pillar of our UIPM movement as a popular urban sport.

“The UIPM Para Laser Run World Championships for wheelchair athlete and other classifications took place this morning and it was clear that the level is growing. It is fantastic that our movement is taking care of Para Pentathlon athletes and making sure our sport is as inclusive as possible.

“I am thankful to all volunteers who supported this competition, the Federation with all their sponsors, and the media reporting on this fantastic three days of Laser Run in Bath. We are looking forward to the Modern Pentathlon World Championships in the coming days.”

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 Pentathlon World Championships runs from August 22-28, based on the following schedule (UIPM TV live coverage times in Central European Summer Time).

• Tuesday, August 22 | Women’s Relay | Men’s Relay
• Wednesday, August 23 | Women’s Qualification
• Thursday, August 24 | Men’s Qualification | Women’s Fencing Ranking Round
• Friday, August 25 | Women’s Semi-final A (11.30am); Semi-final B (4pm) | Men’s Fencing Ranking Round
• Saturday, August 26 | Men’s Semi-final A (11.30am); Semi-final B (4pm)
• Sunday, August 27 | Women’s Final (11.15am) | Men’s Final (4.15pm)
• Monday, August 28 | Mixed Relay (2.15pm)