UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo: All you need to know

• Gulyas (HUN) and Micheli (ITA) resume rivalry as Clouvel (FRA) lurks
• Brothers Elgendy (EGY) face off against array of European talent
• ‘The road to Paris starts here,’ says President Schormann

More than 150 pentathletes have assembled on the banks of the River Nile to embark on a journey that will take many of them north to Ankara (TUR), with a final destination of Paris (FRA).

None of them can secure a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the UIPM Pentathlon World Cup season-opener, but they can go a long way towards qualifying for the UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Cup in Ankara (TUR) in June, where the first automatic Olympic qualification places will be on the line.

Besides, all ranking points gained between now and the summer of 2024 can count towards the dream of competing in the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris (FRA). As UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann says, “For many athletes, the road to Paris starts here!”

 

Ones to watch

Paris 2024 means everything to France and they start as they mean to continue by fielding a world-class team featuring Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist and 2022 World Cup Final winner Elodie Clouvel, two-time world champion Valentin Belaud, three-time World Cup Final winner Valentin Prades, former European champion and two-time World Cup winner Marie Oteiza and Christophe Patte, who won here in Cairo (EGY) in 2018 and 2022.

Host nation Egypt can expect to be competitive with a team led by two remarkable brothers. Having missed last season through injury, Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medallist Ahmed Elgendy competes against younger brother Mohamed Elgendy (who dramatically won silver at the UIPM 2022 Pentathlon World Championships) for the first time.

Last season saw a remarkable rivalry emerge between world No.1 Michelle Gulyas of Hungary and world No.2 Elena Micheli of Italy, who had the final say by becoming world champion in Alexandria (EGY) in July.

Apart from world No.3 Clouvel (FRA) they can be sure of finding tough competition in the form of a Great Britain team led by world No.4 Jessica Varley and world No.7 Olivia Green, with threats likely to emerge from elsewhere in Europe as well as Korea, Japan and Mexico. Rio 2016 bronze medallist Oktawia Nowacka of Poland also continues her comeback.

On the men’s side, the locals will find very serious adversaries in the form of hot-shot Hungary duo Csaba Bohm and Balazs Szep, backed up by the legendary Adam Marosi, and Czech Republic team-mates Martin Vlach and Jan Kuf.

There is a welcome return for Rio 2016 silver medallist Pavlo Tymoshchenko, who makes his first appearance at global level since Tokyo 2020 as part of a seven-strong Ukraine team.

The United States demonstrates its intent to build towards Los Angeles 2028 by sending eight athletes to the season-opener, while the continuing globalisation of Modern Pentathlon is demonstrated by the presence of athletes from Burkina Faso, India, Thailand and Uganda in the field.

Visit the UIPM website to see the latest world rankings for women and men.

 

How it works

This week’s proceedings will replicate the format from 2022 when the new Modern Pentathlon elimination system – featuring a 90-minute showcase of all five disciplines in the Semi-finals and Finals – was introduced. This format will remain in place until Paris 204, after which Riding will be replaced by Obstacle.

One change to the format in 2023 relates to the pathway from Qualification to Semi-finals to Final. Last season, there were seven automatic places in each group, with the remaining places allocated according to the highest scores of non-automatic qualifiers.

Now all places in Semi-finals and Finals will be awarded equally across the groups, and in Cairo (EGY) this means the first 18 finishers in each Qualification group will reach the Semi-finals, and the first nine finishers in each Semi-final will reach the Final.

Two days of qualification on March 7/8 will determine the line-up for the Semi-finals (36 male and 36 female athletes) on March 9/10. The Finals will then provide a ‘Super Saturday’ highlight on March 11 followed by the Mixed Relay on March 12.

 

President’s welcome

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “I would like to welcome all athletes, coaches and trainers, guests and officials to the first UIPM competition of the 2023 season, which will be an exciting year full of opportunities for athletes to progress and fulfil their dreams. For many athletes, the road to Paris 2024 starts here!

“As I have said many times in recent years, Egypt has become a trusted pillar of our movement and not only can we expect a high level of organisation and hospitality throughout this UIPM Pentathlon World Cup, we can also rely on our hosts to provide competitive athletes.

“It is wonderful also to see African athletes coming from Burkina Faso and Uganda to take part in this competition alongside ‘new’ Modern Pentathlon nations from Asia such as India and Thailand. Six continents will be represented, which underlines the progress of our global movement.

“I would like to thank the Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation for arranging this important annual season-opener, with vital contributions from the Egyptian Government and National Olympic Committee. I also want to thank all volunteers, sponsors, supporters and media representatives.

“I wish you all a wonderful season of Modern Pentathlon – let us take all opportunities to use our sport to promote the ideals of education, fair play, respect and, most importantly, peace.”

 

Watch and follow

Live coverage of UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo is available to subscribers on UIPM.TV where annual packages cost €14.99.

Follow World Pentathlon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram throughout the Pentathlon World Cup for additional content, and visit the UIPM website or download the “UIPM Central” app to keep track of results.

 

Competition schedule

UIPM 2023 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo

Times denote start of UIPM.TV live coverage (CET)

March 7: Women’s Qualification

March 8: Men’s Qualification | Women’s Fencing Ranking Round

March 9: Women’s Semi-Final A (9.55am) | Women’s Semi-final B (2.25pm) | Men’s Fencing Ranking Round

March 10: Men’s Semi-Final A (9.15am) | Men’s Semi-final B (2.25pm)

March 11: Women’s Final (9.15am) | Men’s Final (1.15pm)

March 12: Mixed Relay (3pm)