Success for Muir (GBR) and Dogue (GER) in Budapest (HUN)

The 2020 Olympic Modern Pentathlon season began with a thrilling Peridot Indoor Competition in Budapest (HUN) and gold medals to savour for Great Britain and Germany.

Joanna Muir (GBR) retained her Women’s Individual title ahead with Annika Schleu (GER) again claiming the silver medal behind her, while Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist Elodie Clouvel of France took home the bronze.

In the Men’s Individual Final, World No.3 Marvin Dogue (GER) managed to do what he failed to do last season - and defeat the world No.1.

Joseph Choong (GBR) was forced to settle for bronze after failing to match the quality of Dogue (GER) and his silver medallist compatriot Fabian Liebig (GER). 

Dogue (GER) was twice beaten in a sprint finish by Choong (GBR) in 2019 - in the UIPM Pentathlon World Cup Final & Olympic Qualifier in Tokyo (JPN) and in UIPM Pentathlon World Cup Prague.

There were 71 male entries and 60 female entries in qualifying, with a remarkable 28 countries represented - an increase of 13 on the 2019 Indoor Competition. 

It was another successful hosting experience for Budapest (HUN), which hosted the UIPM 2019 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships and in 2020 will rejoin the UIPM Pentathlon World Cup circuit.

Hundreds of athletes are still pushing hard for qualification points in the hope of reaching the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, With 26 places remaining up for grabs, with a range of pathways in 2020 promising to lead the world’s most versatile athletes to their coveted destination.

Six automatic places (three each for women and men) will be on offer in Xiamen (CHN) during the UIPM 2020 Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships in May.  

Japan, as host nation, will be guaranteed at least one place per gender, and two places per gender will be reserved for the Tripartite Commission, which has the right to allocate berths by invitation to NOCs that apply before 17 January, 2020.

That leaves about 12 places to be earned by right, and this will be where the key battleground takes place this year. The UIPM Olympic World Ranking List will be closely monitored throughout the Pentathlon World Cup season as athletes vie for position, hoping to secure one of 12 places (six female, six male) when the final list is published on 1 June – one day after the end of the World Championships.

In June 2020, the process of selection will be formalised as NOCs and National Federations are officially informed of the number of quota places they have earned, with the option of handing any or all of them back, leading to a reallocation according to the ranking list. July 6 is the deadline for all entries to Tokyo 2020.

Visit the UIPM website for a full explanation of the Tokyo 2020 qualification process.