Modern Pentathlon Format and Olympic Modern Pentathlon

Except for the fencing competition, athletes do not directly compete against one another in the five events. Instead, a better absolute performance results in a higher points score; points for each event are combined to give the overall total scores. This is similar to the procedure for the decathlon in track and field athletics.

However, an innovation was introduced to make the finale of the pentathlon more exciting. The last event is the cross-country run. Competitors are ranked according to their score from the first four disciplines and given different start times, with the leader going first, and other starts staggered by points differential such that the first person to cross the finish line will be the overall points leader and win the pentathlon. This method of finishing the competition would also eventually find use in winter events; the Gunderson method details a means by which a similar finish is achieved in the Nordic combined.

The fencing discipline uses the epee. The competition is a round-robin, meaning each competitor will face all the other competitors once. Each match lasts up to one minute; the first fencer to score a hit wins instantly. If neither scores within one minute, both lose the match. The swimming discipline is a 200 m freestyle race. Until the 2000 Olympics, the distance was 300 meters. Competitors are seeded in heats according to their fastest time over the distance. The riding discipline involves show jumping over a 350–450 m course with 12 to 15 obstacles. Competitors are paired with horses in a draw 20 minutes before the start of the event.

The shooting discipline involves using a 4.5 mm air pistol in the standing position from 10 meters distance at a stationary target. Until the 2008 rules change, the format was that of the 10 meter air pistol competition: each competitor had 20 shots, with 40 seconds allowed for each shot.

Beginning with the Rancho Mirage World Cup, the pistols have changed to a laser instead of an actual projectile. There is a slight delay between the trigger pull and the laser firing, simulating the time it would take for a pellet to clear the muzzle.

The running discipline involves a 3 km cross country race. Until the 2000 Olympics, the distance was 4000 meters. If you want to watch this event of charm and enjoyment, you can buy Olympic Modern Pentathlon Tickets from Sport Ticket Exchange. Sport Ticket Exchange offers you all types of Olympic Tickets especially Modern Pentathlon Tickets at very cheap rates.

Modern Pentathlon and its short History

The modern pentathlon is a sports contest that includes five events: pistol shooting, epee fencing, 200 m freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a 3 km cross country run. The sport is governed by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), the International Modern Pentathlon Union.

The modern pentathlon was invented by the Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games. The name derives from the Greek penta "five" and athlon "contest". The addition of modern to the name distinguished it from the original pentathlon of the ancient Olympic Games, which consisted of the stadion foot race, wrestling, long jump, javelin, and discus. As the events of the ancient pentathlon were modeled after the skills of the ideal soldier of that time, Coubertin created the contest to simulate the experience of a 19th century cavalry soldier behind enemy lines: he must ride an unfamiliar horse, fight with pistol and sword, swim, and run.

The event was first held at the 1912 Olympic Games, and was won by Swedish athlete Gosta Lilliehook. The modern pentathlon has been on the Olympic program continuously since 1912. A team event was added to the Olympic Games in 1952 and discontinued in 1992. An event for women was added in 2000. In non Olympic years, a World Championship is held, beginning in 1949.

Originally the competition took place over four or five days; however in 1996 a one day format was adopted in an effort to be more audience friendly. In spite of the event's strong pedigree in the modern Olympics, and its status as the only event created specifically for the modern Olympic Games, its lack of widespread popularity outside Eastern Europe has led to calls for its removal from the Olympic Games in recent years; however, a vote by the IOC on July 8, 2005, keeps it in the Olympic program at least until 2012. Sport Ticket Exchange is a point which is offering Olympic Modern Pentathlon Tickets on very reasonable rates. You can also buy any of Olympic Tickets including Olympic Modern Pentathlon Tickets from Sport Ticket Exchange very easily and securely.