Introduction

A young French cavalry officer of the 19th century was sent on horseback to deliver a message. He rode across the uneven terrain, through enemy lines, and was confronted by a soldier with his sword drawn. Challenged to a duel, the officer won, only to have his horse shot out from under him by another enemy soldier.

After felling that soldier with a single shot, the officer ran on. He swam across a raging river, and then finally he delivered the message. So, legend has it, was born the modern pentathlon.

The brainchild of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games, the event was based upon the unlucky officer and introduced into the Stockholm Games of 1912. Only remotely resembling the ancient pentathlon inspired by the warmongering Spartans, modern pentathletes shoot, fence, swim, compete in show jumping and run - five events testing endurance as well as athletic versatility.

Understanding Modern Pentathalon

Qualification tournaments take place during the course of the pre-Olympic year. Through competitions such as continental and world championships, 32 men and 32 women qualify. The finals resulting from these qualification contests take place during the Olympic Games.

Men and women athletes compete in all five sports within a single day. The addition of each individual score gained by the athlete in each one of these sports determines his or her final standing. The winner is the one with the highest overall score.

In other Modern pentathlon competitions, such as World championships, inter-continental championships and other international or national meetings, two additional events are held: team relays and the team event (team scores). Teams consist of three athletes, and the team score is the sum of the individual scores.

The disciplines of the Modern pentathlon in the finals, as well as at the Olympic Games, are held in the following order: shooting, fencing, swimming, riding and cross-country running. In the qualifying and semi-final rounds the order of the competition events may vary, except for cross-country running which is always held last.

Shooting

Shooting is a technical sport requiring total concentration, self-discipline, and stability.

It is held in an indoor shooting range with a 4.5mm calibre air-pistol on a fixed target (155mm in diameter) at a 10-metre distance. Shooters have a total of 20 firing shots, with a maximum time limit of 40 seconds allowed between each shot and a score of one to ten for each shot. If a shooter carries out each shot perfectly, hitting the centre of the target, the highest possible rating on stable targets - which is 200/200 - is achieved. The pentathlete scores 1,000 points, when he or she reaches a score of 172/200. For every point that is above or below 172, twelve pentathlon points are added or subtracted respectively.

Fencing

Fencing is a technical sport requiring experience, technique, strength, quick thinking, and self-control. It is held in an indoor area, on special aluminium corridors (pistes), measuring 18m long and between 1.5 and 2m wide.

In Fencing, each athlete confronts the opponent directly; with every touch-hit, he or she adds points to the total, at the same time deducting points from the opponent's score.

The athletes use an electrical blade (epee) and fence once with each one of their rivals, in a bout, which lasts up to a minute and within which time a touch-hit must be achieved. The entire body of the athlete is considered a valid target for this objective. If there is no touch-hit during the course of one minute, then both athletes are penalised with one touch-hit each.

?he points that are awarded for each touch-hit are determined by an electronic judging device that depends on the number of participants in each event. An athlete is granted 1,000 points once he or she wins 70% of the touch-hits at the games he or she participates in. For example, during the Olympic Games an athlete confronts 31 athletes. If he or she wins the 70 percent of the touch-hits, that is 28 touch-hits, then 1,000 points are added on his score.

Swimming

Swimming is a dynamic sport requiring strength, technical skills, speed, and good physical condition. Pentathletes usually have a swimming background, which is considered to be the only Pentathlon discipline that cannot be taught at a high level at an older age. For this reason, good swimming standards are considered to be a "precondition" for participation in Modern pentathlon.

Swimming is conducted in indoor or outdoor Olympic specifications swimming pools that are 50m long. The swimmers cover a distance of 200m in freestyle and race against time. The athletes can cover the distance in any swimming style they like, as long as they do not change that style in mid-course. To collect 1,000 points one needs a timing of 2 minutes and 30 seconds for men, and 2 minutes and 40 seconds for women. For every second below or above this time, 12 points are added or deducted respectively.

Riding

Riding is a technical sport that demands courage, an ability to cooperate with the horse, quick thinking, and determination.

It is conducted in an indoor or outdoor Equestrian centre, on grass, turf, or sand. The riding event included in the Modern pentathlon competition involves jumping over hurdles of a maximum height of 1.20m and 150 cm width. The hurdles course has a length of 350 to 450m length, and includes 12 hurdles (15 jumps) with one double and one triple jump. The athlete has a specific time limit within which to compete the course, according to its length. Completing a perfect course adds 1,200 points to the athlete's score, while 40 penalty points are deducted for every refusal to jump, 30 for knocking down a hurdle and 40 if a rider falls from the horse. Penalties are also applied for exceeding the time limit as well as for other infringements.

Athletes compete with horses provided by the organisers, which are selected through a random draw 20 minutes prior to the commencement of the event. For warm-up and preparation purposes, athletes are allowed to ride their allocated horse for 20 minutes and to have up to five trial jumps in the auxiliary exercise area provided for the purpose.

Cross-Country

Running is a dynamic event that requires stamina, spiritual and physical strength. Being the last event, it has major significance and constitutes the last chance for athletes to catch up on possible point losses sustained in the previous events. This event consists of a cross-country race conducted on an uneven terrain or on a public road and over a distance of 3 km (3,000 m) for both men and women. Completing this course within 10 minutes and zero seconds for men, and within 11 minutes and 20 seconds for women adds 1,000 points to the overall score of the athlete.

The starting order is arranged based on the handicap system, according to which the score of the athletes after the first four Pentathlon sports is totalled up, and the differences in their standings are converted into different starting times. This procedure is followed because the order in which the athletes finish is also the final standing in the competition. This handicap starting system was adopted for two main reasons. Firstly, spectators can directly assess the finishing order. Secondly, the athletes are motivated to overtake as many competitors as they can, since they are competing against their opponents and not just the clock.