ACOG - Pentathlon - IBM

Spectator's Guide to Modern Pentathlon

Modern pentathlon is made up of five disciplines: shooting, fencing, swimming, riding and running. The goal is to test every aspect of a person's athletic ability. It is for this reason that modern pentathletes assert their sport produces the "World's Greatest Athlete."

Today, the trend is for both men and women to complete all five events of the modern pentathlon in one day. Youth events are completed over two or sometimes three days. A points system for each event is based on a standard performance earning 1,000 points. The winner is the pentathlete who has accumulated the most points after the five events. At official International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPMB) competitions some flexibility exists in the order of events, but running or riding must always be the final event.

Fencing is the discipline that can make or break a pentathlete. It's the only discipline in which you can keep your opponent from getting points. And the stakes are high: one touch is equivalent to 4.5 seconds in the swim. But no matter how you do in fencing, if you fall apart in one of the other disciplines, you're not going to come out on top. Modern pentathlon is all about being well-rounded. This is no easy feat. Experts say, for example, that you'll never see someone win both the fence and the shoot due to personality types. Fencers need to be aggressive and able to channel anger, whereas shooters need to be calm, cool and sedate. Watch for competitors' strengths and weaknesses in the following events.

Shooting

Competitors slow-fire 20 shots, one per target, on a 10m shooting range with an air pistol. A target score of 172 out of 200 will earn 1,000 points. Twelve points are added or deducted for each target point above or below 172.

Fencing

The epée is the weapon in this round robin of electronic one-touch bouts lasting one minute each. An athlete who wins 70 percent of his bouts earns 1,000 points. Each victory differential adds or subtracts 30 points.

Swimming

Swimmers race against the clock instead of each other. Heats are seeded according to athletes' personal best times. Men swim 300m and can earn 1,000 points with a time of 3 minutes 54 seconds. Four points are added or deducted for each half second faster or slower.

Riding

Riders are given 20 minutes to familiarize themselves with their appointed horses before facing a 450m course with 12 obstacles. A clear round within the time limit is worth 1,100 points. Points are deducted for refusals, knockdowns and for exceeding the time limit.

Running

The person with the most points after four events has the advantage of a handicapped start in the cross-country run, which is 4,000m long. Three points are deducted or added to the possible 1,000 points for each second faster or slower than the 14 minutes, 15 seconds allowed for men. The person crossing the finish line first in this final event will win the 1996 Olympic gold medal.

This is an official publication of The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Jennifer Knight. Special thanks to the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne et Biathlon.


Olympic Factoid
The volunteer staff of the 1996 Olympic Games totaled 50,152. They worked an estimated 850,000 shifts.