UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest: All you need to know

• Gulyas (HUN) renews rivalry with world champion Micheli (ITA)
• Olympic qualification bids intensify for Clouvel (FRA) and Ozyuksel (TUR)
• Golden boys of Egypt and Korea lead clash of titans

Central Europe becomes the centre of the Modern Pentathlon universe as athletes from 42 nations gather to compete over the next six days.

The Hungarian capital of Budapest has staged some of Modern Pentathlon’s most memorable competitions stretching back several decades, and now it hosts the third major competition of Olympic year, UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest.

With 28 of the 72 places at Paris 2024 remaining unallocated, and many of those who have secured quota places looking to finetune their form, competition will be fierce and the athlete line-up is once again packed with stardom and podium experience.

All points earned in the six major UIPM competitions this season can potentially count towards the UIPM Olympic Pentathlon World Ranking list.

Those who perform best in the regular season in Cairo (EGY), Ankara (TUR), Budapest (HUN) and Sofia (BUL) will earn a place in the UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Cup Final in Ankara (TUR).

This will be followed by one last opportunity to win direct qualification quota places for Paris 2024 at the UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Championships in Zhengzhou (CHN).

Ones to watch – women

The two athletes whose friendly rivalry dominated the 2023 season – Elena Micheli of Italy and Michelle Gulyas of Hungary – are reunited in the first Qualification heat after polarised experiences in the 2024 season-opener in Cairo (EGY). While Gulyas (HUN) won that competition and will go into her home event as the favourite, two-time world champion Micheli (ITA) failed to reach the Final after a pre-season injury.

• Watch A Passion For Paris: Episode 1 – featuring Elena Micheli and Elodie Clouvel

Many eyes will also be on two decorated athletes whose efforts to secure qualification for Paris 2024 suffered a setback last week with Semi-final elimination in Pentathlon World Cup Ankara – Elodie Clouvel of France and Ilke Ozyuksel of Türkiye.

Korea has been the surprise packet on the women’s scene so far this season, with Sunwoo Kim and Seungmin Seong winning silver medals in the first two Pentathlon World Cups. But it is hard to imagine a podium without local representation, 12 months after Gulyas (HUN) was defeated in an extraordinary race by her team-mate Blanka Guzi (HUN).

The field contains pentathlon luminaries of all ages, from 40-year-old Laura Asadauskaite of Lithuania to last week’s first-time medallist, 19-year-old Malak Ismail of Egypt.

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

 

Ones to watch – men

Having claimed four of the six Men’s Individual medals handed out so far, the Egypt duo of world No.5 Ahmed Elgendy and Moutaz Mohamed will take some stopping, although their world No.3 team-mate Mohanad Shaban will be determined to redeem himself after a tricky start to the season.

The ever-improving Koreans tasted gold in Ankara (TUR) with a maiden triumph for world No.7 Changwan Seo, who returns in a formidable double act alongside world No.4 Woongtae Jun.

And what about the European challenge? It may be led by the host nation, with Csaba Bohm and Balazs Szep the highest-ranked of a legion of world-class Hungarians, or by Germany duo Patrick Dogue and Fabien Liebig, although Taishu Sato of Japan is coming into form and it would not be wise to rule out Emiliano Hernandez of Mexico.

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

How it works

The 2024 season will be the last to feature the format introduced in 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. After Paris 2024, Riding will be replaced by Obstacle at all levels of the sport.

Two days of qualification on April 23/24 will determine the line-up for the Semi-finals (36 male and 36 female athletes) on April 25/26. The Finals will then provide a ‘Super Saturday’ highlight on April 27 followed by the Mixed Relay on April 28.

 

President’s welcome

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “Hungary has been a pillar of our global movement for many decades. Not only can we expect excellent organisation and hospitality throughout this week’s UIPM Pentathlon World Cup, we know that our hosts will be watching the competition closely as their own athletes aim to prepare in the best way to fulfil their Olympic dreams.

“For all athletes focusing on the Olympic Games in August, while Paris is their final destination, beautiful Budapest will be their home for the next few days and they all know that coming here to compete is a special highlight of any season.

“My thanks go to the Hungarian Modern Pentathlon Association, the Government of Hungary and National Olympic Committee. I also want to thank all volunteers, sponsors, supporters and media representatives.

“As always, I urge athletes to never forget their responsibility to compete in a spirit of fair play, as our founder Pierre de Coubertin envisaged, and respect the Olympic values as we together enjoy the glory of our unique multisport. Faster, Stronger, Higher … Together.”

 

Watch and follow

Live coverage of UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest is available to subscribers on UIPM.TV where annual packages cost €14.99.

Visit the UIPM website or download UIPM Central from your app store to keep track of live results. Follow World Pentathlon on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X or YouTube for additional content.

 

Competition schedule

UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest

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

April 23: Women’s Qualification

April 24: Men’s Qualification | Women’s Fencing Ranking Round

April 25: Women’s Semi-Final A (2.45pm) | Women’s Semi-final B (5.30pm) | Men’s Fencing Ranking Round

April 26: Men’s Semi-Final A (2.45pm) | Men’s Semi-final B (5.30pm)

April 27: Women’s Final (10am) | Men’s Final (4.30pm)

April 28: Mixed Relay (3pm)