The revolution is decided: Riding is out of the modern pentathlon. Annika Schleu’s Olympic scandal affects the future of the sport. In order for there to be one at all, the world association relies on a new discipline. This becomes popular on TV.
The controversial show jumping in modern pentathlon will finally be history after the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, it will be replaced by an obstacle course. This was decided by the congress of the world association UIPM with 69 out of 83 votes. Recently there had already been several test competitions. Athletes then have to shimmy along rings and climb up a curved wall.
Show jumping had become intolerable with the scandal surrounding the German athlete Annika Schleu at the Olympic Games last summer. Schleu had been on course for gold in Tokyo until her drawn horse refused to jump. In tears, she tried to bring the animal back into the course with spurs and whip, the pictures went around the world.
As a consequence, the cancellation of show jumping was announced in November, but according to the current status it will only take effect after the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. The sport is not yet part of the Olympic program for 2028. “When we leave the Olympic Games, we will only belong in the Olympic Museum,” said UIPM President Klaus Schormann. The course is “the only answer”.
The decision to use the obstacle course, made popular by the game show Ninja Warrior, is intended to improve the pentathlon’s odds as Los Angeles 2028 approaches. The obstacle course should already be part of national championships and in the international junior area in 2023.
IOC President Thomas Bach recently said that the future of the pentathlon also depends on “how the association replaces the equestrian competition”. From the circle of the athletes there was already a strong objection. The interest group Pentathlon United complained that the executive of the world association ignored the majority opinion of the athletes. In a survey by Pentathlon United, among other things, they had spoken out in favor of retaining a discipline from equestrian sports.
