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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.
Previously held
over four to five days, the modern pentathlon reverted to
its true character at the Atlanta Games in 1996 with a
one-day event. The pattern continued at Sydney and will be
the same during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
Shooting
The pentathletes have 40 seconds to fire 20 shots from an
air pistol at a 17cm-square target from 10 metres.
Fencing
Fencing follows, with a round-robin competition between each
participant.
Swimming
Swimming is third, a freestyle race over 200 metres, with
athletes seeded in heats according to their personal best
times.
Riding
Once they have dried off, the pentathletes head to the show
jumping ring, where they have 20 minutes to get to know the
horse before riding.
Running
The final event is the 3000m run, with the pentathletes set
off at intervals corresponding to their points so the first
person across the line wins the gold medal.
Both women
and men compete in this sport.
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