UIPM Pentathlon Challengers Poland, Spain and Kyrgyzstan offer pathway to Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Rebranded to add prestige and relevance to all competitions carrying rankings points on the road to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the first three UIPM Pentathlon Challengers added spice to the 2023 season. 

Türkiye, with no direct qualification quota places gained in the bigger showpiece competitions, enjoyed a triumphant finish to the competitive year when Ilke Ozyuksel (TUR) and Bugra Unal (TUR) won the Women’s and Men’s Finals respectively at UIPM 2023 Pentathlon Challenger Kyrgyzstan. 

This followed individual success for Anna Maliszewska of Poland and Ahmed Elgendy of Egypt at UIPM 2023 Pentathlon Challenger Spain, and for Salma Abdelmaksoud (EGY) and Jean-Baptiste Mourcia of France at UIPM 2023 Pentathlon Challenger Poland. 

Hungary claimed four of the 18 medals on offer in the three competitions, while there was also podium joy for Czech Republic (2), Bulgaria, Ecuador, Estonia, Italy, Mexico and Spain. 

Points gained in the Pentathlon Challengers were added to those accumulated in other qualification competitions such as Continental Games, giving a pathway to many athletes who may not otherwise attain their Olympic dream to forge their own qualification pathway.

Unal (TUR) ended the season in pole position in the UIPM Olympic World Ranking List, ranked 3rd among men behind Pan American Games medallists and quota qualifiers Andres Torres (ECU) and Emiliano Hernandez (MEX). Mourcia (FRA) occupied 4th place with Lukasz Gutkowski (POL) in 7th.  

On the women’s side, Maliszewska (POL) and Mariana Arceo (MEX) were in the strongest position among non-quota recipients, sitting 2nd and 3rd respectively behind Pan American Games winner Mayan Oliver (MEX). Lea Egloff of Switzerland and Anais Eudes of Belgium completed the top five.  

The final event of the series in the Paris 2024 Olympic cycle will be UIPM 2024 Pentathlon Challenger Egypt in January.