ACOG - Pentathlon - IBM

History of Modern Pentathlon

Ancient Pentathlon

The pentathlon, at one time consisting of running the length of the stadium, broad jumping, throwing the spear, throwing the discus and wrestling, was introduced for the first time at the 18th Olympiad in 708 B.C.E., probably by the Spartans as a method of training soldiers. The pentathlon held a position of unique importance in the Games and was considered to be the climax, with the winner ranked as "Victor Ludorum."

Modern Pentathlon

Admiration for the Ancient Games' pentathlon was fully shared by the founder of the Modern Olympic Games, Baron Pierre de Coubertin. After two failed attempts to re-introduce the sport onto the Olympic Programme, pentathlon's moment came in 1912. The "modern" pentathlon embraced the spirit of its ancient counterpart while comprising the contemporary sports of pistol shooting, fencing, swimming, horse riding and running. It was de Coubertin's belief that it would be the event, above all others, that "tested a man's moral qualities as much as his physical resources and skills, producing, thereby, the ideal, complete athlete."

The choice of the five diverse and unrelated sports which make up the modern pentathlon arose out of the adventures of a liaison officer whose horse is brought down in enemy territory. Having defended himself with his pistol and sword, he swims across a raging river and delivers the message on foot. Not surprisingly, it was the military who most enthusiastically adopted this new sport with its inherent demands of courage, coordination, physical fitness, self-discipline and flexibility in ever-changing circumstances. For many years the modern pentathlon was used as part of final examinations at a number of European military academies.

Modern Pentathlon Today

You won't find a pentathlete with a full-time job. With five disciplines to master, modern pentathlon remains a true amateur sport that requires a full-time commitment. That has its advantages.

Since well-roundedness is the key, and disciplines like shooting, fencing and riding emphasize skill rather than sheer speed or power, pentathletes stick around. While running and swimming times can be expected to decline with age, experience and skill in the technical disciplines improve with experience. It's not uncommon to see them competing in their 30s. The oldest Olympic medalist in the modern pentathlon to date was Pavel Lednev from the former Soviet Union and current Russia, who was 37 years old at the 1980 Games in Moscow.

Like tennis, a small group of elites travels from city to city. Combined with the number of years pentathletes can compete, the circuit has acquired a real fraternal aspect that many believe was the dream of the sport's founder.

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
Pin trading was one of the most popular Olympic sports, with more than 1.2 million pins changing hands during the Games in the Coca Cola Pin Trading Center at Centennial Olympic Park.