The presidents of 40 national modern pentathlon federations and their associates are gathering in Nice from November 10 to 13. They will discuss the current events and the future of this sporting discipline.
With less than a year to go until the London Olympics, this meeting of national federations is highly anticipated. Indeed, a new feature will be introduced in this discipline during the Games: the combined running-shooting event with laser shooting.
Among the most influential nations present in pentathlon are Great Britain, Hungary, the United States, France, Russia, Italy, Egypt, and China.
Nice aims to promote modern pentathlon
Last February, the Nice Pentathlon Alpes Azur club, in collaboration with OGC Nice Escrime and the NUC Badminton, organized the first national modern pentathlon competition: the national circuit minimes n°2.
The Nice Pentathlon Alpes Azur club, whose President is Julien Arnold, has top-level athletes, French champions in the youth category, and medallists at the recent World and European Championships such as Andy Génard, Marie Oteiza, and Romaric Gysels.
More than 900 members, including many young people (with a pentathlon adapted for 11-14-year-olds), practice their favorite sport in 25 clubs across our country.
Nice encourages the development of participation in this discipline and will support the Nice Pentathlon Alpes Azur in organizing the French Youth Championships in June 2012. Moreover, the city expresses its intention to also host the European Youth Championships in 2013 and an international Seniors event in 2014, under the auspices of the French Modern Pentathlon Federation.
Modern Pentathlon is a sport that includes five disciplines, each requiring different skills:
– Pistol shooting (precision),
– Fencing (combativeness),
– Swimming (power),
– Equestrian (adaptability),
– And running (endurance).
In ancient times, the pentathlon (discus, javelin, running, long jump, wrestling sometimes pankration or boxing) was one of the most prestigious Olympic events. The winner of this event was regarded as the true star of the Games.
As early as 1894, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the renovator of the Modern Olympic Games, strived to introduce a new pentathlon adapted to his conception of sport, the modern pentathlon, into the program.
To explain the logic behind the choice of the five proposed sports, Coubertin liked to tell the story of a liaison officer whose horse, shot down in enemy territory, forced him to defend himself with his sword, protect himself with his pistol, swim across a river before completing the last part of his journey on foot.
His project was only accepted in 1909 by his peers at the International Olympic Committee to be introduced at the 1912 Games in Stockholm. “It’s the true consecration of the complete athlete,” stated Pierre de Coubertin when announcing the news.
France is one of the leading nations in modern pentathlon. In the young categories, the French school is now the global benchmark. Among seniors, France shines with numerous titles and podiums, both in individual events and by teams or relays.
Amélie Cazé, triple world champion (2007, 2008, 2010) and double European champion (2009, 2010), is the spearhead of the discipline in France and will be one of the strong favorites at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
France was the 2010 world team champion for women and the runner-up in the relay world championship.
The French Modern Pentathlon Federation has its headquarters at the CNOSF in Paris. The current president is François Desprès.
The UIPM (International Modern Pentathlon Union), headquartered in Monaco, leads modern pentathlon globally, headed by the German Mr. Klaus Schormann.
