The Olympic Games include sports such as fencing, swimming and shooting.
PARIS, France — Inspired by the traditional pentathlon of the ancient Olympic Games, the modern pentathlon is an all-around event that tests an athlete's skill in five difficult and little-known sports.
The sport was introduced into the modern Olympic Games in 1912 and has been included in the Olympic program ever since, and has evolved significantly over the years.
Here's what you need to know about the Olympic sports taking place in Paris this summer.
What is Modern Pentathlon?
The name is of Greek origin and means “contest of the five sports.”
Modern pentathlon consists of five events: swimming, fencing, horse riding, pistol shooting and running.
The competition is split into two sections. In the first section, athletes begin with two rounds of fencing, a 200-meter freestyle swim, and, for the first time, equestrian show jumping on horses. Horses are assigned by lottery just 20 minutes before the athletes begin their competition.
In the second round, athletes are ranked by their first-round scores and the order is staggered. The final event is a race called the Laser Run, which combines running and target shooting. The first person to cross the finish line wins the gold medal.
Changes in Modern Pentathlon
The format of the modern pentathlon has evolved over the years. The dressage event was once a cross-country event but was changed to show jumping in 1988. The team event was added in 1957 but was dropped in 1992. The women's event was added in 2000.
More changes are coming in the near future: Paris will be the last Olympics to include equestrian sports, which were initially dropped from the 2028 Olympic Games list, with horse riding replacing steeplechase.
