UIPM 2024 Pentathlon & Tetrathlon Masters World Championships: 16 individual champions crowned in Gyomro (HUN)

Rivalries were fierce but lifelong friendships were created as 16 new world champions were crowned on a weekend of sporting excellence at the UIPM 2024 Masters World Championships.

Athletes who had previously specialised in Laser Run, Biathle and Triathle as well as Modern Pentathlon rose to the challenge in Gyomro (HUN) as the event returned after a six-year absence. Thirteen team medals were also awarded, with 100 athletes from around the world aged 30+ to 70+ competing in Pentathlon and Tetrathlon.

Interestingly, three athletes with origins in Laser Run, Biathle or Triathle won gold: Tamas Gajdos and Krisztina Gerhardt of Hungary and Emanuel Gambini of Italy demonstrating the value of the UIPM Sports pathway in offering opportunities for lifelong competition. 

Pentathlon round-up

Janos Pethes (HUN) won the Men’s 70+ gold in front of a home crowd which is quite the achievement considering he was born in 1949, the 75-year-old also being oldest pentathlete taking part.

Francesco Lo Monaco (ITA) pipped Charlie Lane of Great Britain in the Laser Run by 7sec to clinch the Men’s 60+ gold.

Laser Run was another big factor in the Men’s 50+ as Jean-Christophe Perrier of France smashed the other eight pentathletes with a time of 7:44.50 giving the Frenchman more than enough points to top the podium.

Denise Silk (GBR) was the oldest women pentathlete taking part but she showed that age is but a number as the 58-year-old comfortably won the Women’s 50+ title, amassing 1522 points.

George Harrip-Allan of South Africa showed considerable prowess in the Fencing Ranking Round (28V/4D) to power to Men’s 40+ gold while the decorated Andra Novicka of Latvia delivered an impressive Laser Run time of 8:03.53 to seal Women’s 40+ gold in a field of 10 athletes.

Tetrathlon round-up

Roger Menck of Germany, 80 years young, was the oldest competitor in Gyomro (HUN) but could not overcome Aleksandr Kasatov (AIN) as the 75-year-old prevailed in the Men’s 70+ category.

The Men's 60+ proved to be one of the more competitive age groups in the Tetrathlon as under 200 points separated 1st from 10th. Tamas Gajdos (HUN) did not win any of the isolated disciplines but his consistency across Fencing, Swimming and Laser Run proved to be pivotal as he took home the gold in his home country.

Dr Barbara Oettinger (GER) showed it doesn’t matter how you start but how you finish as she beat off the competition convincingly in Swimming and Laser Run to win the Women’s 60+ gold despite having ranked last in Fencing.

The Men’s 50+ had been a tight contest all day before the Laser Run finale which saw Gambini (ITA) far outpacing the chasing pack with a time of 7:30.12.

Like his female compatriot Silk (GBR), Edward Crofton-Martin (GBR) was the oldest on the Men’s 40+ start line but his 49-year-old frame failed to hinder his performance, with superior Fencing and Laser-Run results to his peers.

Florian Gerbe (FRA) dominated the Laser Run in the Men’s 30+ race to win gold, beating the other tetrathletes by nearly 2min with a time of 6:29.94, while Vera Oettinger (GER) comfortably won Women’s 30+.

Champions’ reaction

Tamas Gajdos (HUN), Tetrathlon Men’s 60+ gold medallist, said: “I really enjoyed this World Championships. It was my first real Pentathlon race, because I started to practise Laser Run five years ago when the Pentathlon World Championships were here in Hungary.

“Thanks for all the UIPM and the Hungarian Federation officials and my club, the TRION-SC, who gave this place up for the weekend. Gyomro is a nice city and it was a really nice place for this World Championships.

“I enjoyed it. Next year I will start to ride the horse and try the Pentathlon too.”

 Andra Novicka (LAT), Women’s 40+ Pentathlon gold medallist, said: “The Modern Pentathlon World Championships returned after six years, and I was happy to participate in this event!

“Despite the rainy weather, the atmosphere was truly warm and friendly. All the athletes showed incredible determination to win, and the support from the fans inspired us to fight until the very end.

“It was great to see familiar faces again and feel the spirit of unity that was present throughout the competition. This championship gave me a lot of emotions and left unforgettable memories that I will cherish for a long time.” 

George Harrop-Allin (RSA), Men’s 40+ Pentathlon gold medallist, said: “Thank you to Hungary and the Hungarian Modern Pentathlon Association for a wonderful competition. It was so special to win this world championships in a country with such a rich heritage in Modern Pentathlon.

“I was fortunate to have a fantastic Fencing round and a beautiful horse. I thank you all and what a wonderful time.” 

Ahmed Abouelmagd (EGY), Men’s 30+ Tetrathlon gold medallist, said: “I am very happy to have participated in the competition in Hungary, it was very hard but I had lots of fun and enjoyed a friendly atmosphere in the Masters community.

“I want to thank all the athletes participating in this Masters World Championship, they showed a lot of camaraderie and it was a joyful event.” 

Denise Silk (GBR), Women’s Pentathlon 50+ gold medallist, said: “I am delighted to have won my category at the World Championships in Hungary. 

“Competitions like these take a huge amount of organising and we are thankful for the efforts of the UIPM and the Hungarian team. The Masters have become a wonderful family of competitors and friends. 

“I have personally benefited from seeing so many others join me in the Masters Pentathlon journey.”