GRASSROOTS
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GRASSROOTS
As the 2009 Modern
Pentathlon World
Championships comes
to London, we talk to
Pentathlon GB about
encouraging youngsters
into the sport
MODERN PENTATHLON
I
n today’s competitive society up the modern pentathlon came out of arise. This philosophy is still true today,
concerns are sometimes expressed a romantic legend about a Napoleonic which is why the tasks facing modern
about young people being forced cavalry officer who is sent to deliver an pentathletes in different events can vary
to specialise in one sport from an urgent dispatch. Given an unfamiliar considerably. The run might be uphill or
early age to achieve success. However, horse, he rode across challenging terrain downhill, on the track or cross-country,
modern pentathlon is different, as it under enemy fire shooting a number of or a mixture of everything, with bouts of
consists of five diverse sports that re- his pursuers. His ammunition expended, shooting in between.
quire very different skills and abilities. he was then confronted by a soldier with
British pentathletes have performed his sword drawn. He won the duel and Sport Development
well in recent years, with performances remounted his horse only to reach a The five sports that make up the modern
that include winning a total of four med- river which his steed could not cross. pentathlon are fencing, swimming, show
als from the last three Olympic Games The gallant hero swam the river and jumping and a combined run and shoot.
– including Heather Fell’s silver medal at then ran the rest of the way to deliver To keep Britain’s tradition of modern
Beijing 2008. The Brits will be battling his message successfully. pentathlon success going, Pentathlon GB
it out for honours again when the 2009 The sport, however, is essentially is keen to encourage more youngsters to
World Championships take place at based on an older classical philoso- get involved in the sport, identify future
Crystal Palace in London from 13-17 phy expressed by Aristotle and others talent and nurture it from basic skills
August. For further information go to eulogising the attributes of ‘the most and fitness all the way up to the Olympic
www.pentathlongb.org/mpwc/ perfect sportsmen – because in their medal winners’ podium.
bodies strength and speed are com- Entry into modern pentathlon can be
History bined in beautiful harmony’ as they through many different routes. Tradi-
It’s claimed that the choice of the five are capable of turning their skill and tionally the Pony Club, which runs its
diverse and unrelated sports that make expertise to any situation that might own tetrathlon competition (no fencing)
with regional and national champion-
The Schools Biathlon Championship, with regional
ships, has provided a significant number
of our Olympic medal-winning inter-
qualifying events, is used to recruit athletes into the sport national athletes – Steph Cooke, Kate
50 Read Sports Management online
sportsmanagement.co.uk/digital Issue 3 2009 © cybertrek 2009
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