The modern pentathlon is an Olympic sport consisting of fencing, freestyle swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting, and cross country running. The event is inspired by the traditional pentathlon held during the ancient Olympics. The modern pentathlon was first held in 1912, and its rules have changed several times over the years. The latest structure, as of the 2020 Olympics, consists of three separate events for fencing, swimming, and equestrian, which determine each athlete's starting time in the final event. The last event, called the laser-run, alternates four legs of laser pistol shooting followed by an 800 m run.
The modern pentathlon at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro took place from 19 to 20 August 2016 at Deodoro Aquatics Centre, Deodoro Stadium, and Youth Arena.
Peter Samuel Konrad Sacksen is an American modern pentathlete from Somerset, Pennsylvania. He is currently ranked no. 56 in the world by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM).
Viktor Horváth is a modern pentathlete from Hungary. He competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he finished nineteenth in the men's event, with a score of 5,272 points.
Aleksander Leonidovich Lesun is a Belarusian-born naturalized Russian modern pentathlete. He is a multiple-time medalist at the World and European Championships, and was a top-ranked male modern pentathlete in the world by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM).
Hwang Woo-jin is a modern pentathlete from South Korea. He competed for the modern pentathlon at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, along with his compatriot Jung Jin-hwa.
Rita Sanz-Agero is a female modern pentathlete from Guatemala. At age sixteen, Sanz-Agero became the youngest modern pentathlete to compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where she finished thirty-fourth in the women's event, with a score of 4,844 points.
Yoshihiro Murakami is a Japanese modern pentathlete. Murakami represented Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he finished thirty-first in the men's event, with a score of 4,744 points.
Yaniel Velázquez Garcia is a Cuban modern pentathlete. He won a silver medal for the men's event at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which earned him a qualifying place for the Olympics, with an impressive score of 5,344 points.
Jaime López Sánchez is a Spanish modern pentathlete. Lopez competed for the men's event, at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. During the competition, Lopez made a strong start in the early segments, until he fell off by his horse Gege and did not finish the run in the riding segment. Following his disastrous horse fall and discontinuous riding leg, he finished abruptly in last place, with a score of 4,196 points.
Leila Gyenesei is a Hungarian modern pentathlete and cross-country skier. She is a five-time medalist at the World Championships, and is currently ranked no. 19 in the world by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM). She is also the daughter of István Gyenesei, former Minister of Local Government and chairman of the Association for Somogy party.
Jean Maxence Berrou is a French modern pentathlete. He is also a two-time champion at World Cup circuits, two-time silver medalist at the European Junior Championships, and is currently ranked no. 26 in the world by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM).
Bartosz Majewski is a Polish modern pentathlete. He won a silver medal for the relay at the 2010 European Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, and is currently ranked no. 63 in the world by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM).
Marcin Horbacz is a Polish modern pentathlete. He is also a two-time champion at the 2007 and 2009 World Cup circuit, and is currently ranked no. 106 in the world by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM).
Nam Dong-Hong is a South Korean modern pentathlete. He is also a silver medalist at the 2008 Korean Open & Asian Championships in Seoul, and is currently ranked no. 123 in the world by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM).
Yun Cho-Rong is a South Korean modern pentathlete. She also won a gold medal for the women's individual event at the 2006 Asian Modern Pentathlon Championships in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Andrea Valentini is an Italian modern pentathlete. He won a bronze medal in the men's team event at the 2004 World Championships in Moscow, Russia. Valentini is a member of the modern pentathlon team for Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Azzurre, and is coached and trained by Luigi Filipponi.
Sara Bertoli is an Italian modern pentathlete. She won two medals, silver and bronze, in the women's relay event at the 2002 and 2004 World Championships in San Francisco, California, United States and in Warsaw, Poland, respectively. Bertoli is a member of the modern pentathlon team for Gruppo Sportivo Fiamme Azzurre, and is coached and trained by Luigi Filipponi.
Angie Darby is an Australian modern pentathlete. As of August 2011, Darby is ranked no. 141 in the world by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM).
The modern pentathlon at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo took place in 2021 at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza and Ajinomoto Stadium.
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