Modern Pentathlon

Olympic sport · five events · skill challenge

Five wild events. Athletes fence with swords, swim freestyle, shoot laser pistols, run cross country, and race through obstacle courses. All on the same day.

Olympic tradition. Modern pentathlon started in the 1912 Olympics and was inspired by the ancient Olympic pentathlon that tested warriors' survival skills.

Total brain and brawn. You need speed for running and swimming, precision for shooting and fencing, and strategy to pace yourself through all five challenges.

One intense day. The whole competition happens in a single day, so athletes must manage their energy and stay sharp through different types of sports back to back.

A modern invention. Unlike ancient sports, modern pentathlon was created in 1912 to mimic how a soldier might need to fight, swim, run, and survive behind enemy lines.