New Pentathlon Discipline: Test Event IV launched as positive feedback continues

• Fourth test of Obstacle Discipline scheduled for October 7-8
• Junior athletes (U22) will be main participants in Zielona Gora (POL)
• Survey reveals 85-90% ‘very satisfied’ with Test Event II in Manila (PHI)

Junior and senior pentathletes from around the world will have another opportunity to sample Obstacle Discipline when the fourth official test of the concept takes place in Zielona Gora, Poland.

New Pentathlon Discipline Test Event IV will be held at the WOSiR Drzonkow sports complex on October 7-8 in parallel with the UIPM 2022 Junior World Championships, run by UIPM and the Polish Modern Pentathlon Association (PMPA).

While junior (Under 21) athletes from all continents will be the main participants in the Test Event, senior athletes are also encouraged to grasp this final opportunity in 2022 to experience Obstacle Discipline.

• Click here to register for Test Event IV

Participant feedback

The Obstacle Discipline enthusiasts who took part in Test Event II have given the concept high marks  for its potential to make Modern Pentathlon more exciting and more accessible.

Of the 27 pentathletes who competed in Manila (PHI), 22 answered a tailored survey provided by UIPM at the end of the day. Forty-three obstacle athletes responded to a second survey and eight observers (coaches and officials) answered a third.

Nine out of 10 participating pentathletes (90%) and 85% of observers said they were very satisfied – the highest available rating – with the overall Test Event experience.

Other insights included:

• 95% of pentathletes were very satisfied with the enjoyment of the competition
• 94% of pentathletes were very satisfied with the design of obstacles (look and feel)
• 76% of pentathletes and 42% of observers were very satisfied with the level of technical difficulty
• 86% of pentathletes were satisfied or very satisfied with the physical demands of the course
• 90% of pentathletes were very satisfied with the excitement of the head-to-head format
• 95% of pentathletes and 86% of observers were very satisfied with the attractiveness of Obstacle design to global audiences and youth

One question posed to obstacle specialists asked if they would consider starting to practise the other disciplines of Modern Pentathlon following the Test Event. A third (33%) of respondents said they were extremely likely to do that.

The positive feedback from Manila (PHI) follows a resounding seal of approval from participants in Test Event I in Ankara (TUR). More than nine out of 10 participating pentathletes (92%) and observers (93%) said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the overall Test Event experience.

All survey results will be fully evaluated and will inform preparations for Test Event III in Lignano Sabbiadoro (ITA) and Test Event IV in Zielona Gora (POL).

UIPM comments

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “After the success of the first two Test Events in Ankara and Manila, I am delighted that participants in the UIPM 2022 Junior World Championships will have an opportunity to try Obstacle Discipline in Zielona Gora on October 7-8.

“We are also looking forward next week to the third Test Event in Italy, where an even younger group of athletes will experience a racing concept that promises to transform Modern Pentathlon into one of the most popular, dynamic and accessible sports in the Olympic Games.

“The feedback from those who took part in the first two test events underlines that we are on the right track with this testing process, providing a new sporting challenge that excites and inspires youth.”

Background

Obstacle Discipline is undergoing an intensive pilot phase as a potential addition to Modern Pentathlon for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Obstacle Discipline was selected in May 2022 for testing as UIPM explores the possibility of integrating the globally popular racing concept into Modern Pentathlon after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

At the end of the testing and evaluation phase, UIPM 2022 Congress will vote on proposals for the LA28 Modern Pentathlon format to be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).