The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) held its first Obstacle World Championships in Beijing from October 23 to 26. The global debut attracted more than 500 competitors from 30 countries and regions. Modern pentathlon, comprising fencing, shooting, riding, running and swimming, was introduced into the Olympics in 1912 by the "father of modern Olympics," Baron Pierre de Coubertin. The obstacle race was added to modern pentathlon to replace horse riding as one of the five disciplines. To appeal to a younger generation, UIPM announced in 2023 that obstacle-running would be added to the Olympic program, with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games slated as the first games to feature the event.
(Text and photos by Wei Yao)
