Monaco (AP) – The President of the World Pentathlon Association UIPM has contradicted media reports according to which the obstacle course has already been determined as a replacement discipline for show jumping.
“It’s too early to name technical elements. That has to be tested now and is being prepared by experts,” said Klaus Schormann of the German Press Agency. The fact that individual media have already mentioned the obstacle course is not yet correct. “In the way it’s worded, I wouldn’t say it just yet.”
An obstacle discipline is to replace equestrian sport in the modern pentathlon as a fifth competition in the future, but no details were given. Schormann spoke vaguely of a discipline that is practiced in a “range of about 100 to 150 meters with obstacles”.
The abolition of horseback riding in favor of another discipline is controversial among athletes. With the cancellation of riding, the world association also reacted to the incidents at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. In Japan, the German Annika Schleu had caused a stir and sharp criticism when the leader at the time in the intermediate classification could not get along with a horse that had been drawn to her and was completely insecure and she desperately used whip and spurs. According to Schormann, there were already considerations about exchanging disciplines before the Tokyo incident.
At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the modern pentathlon will take place for the last time with riding. For the following games in Los Angeles 2028, the sport is not part of the program. With the change of discipline, the UIPM is also reacting to the requirements of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).