The pentathlon legacy

The historic five-discipline event has been struggling in recent Olympics due to lack of media attention

BUDAPEST: An Olympic medal is the only one missing from Viktor Horvath’s collection and, given Hungary’s modern pentathlon heritage, success for the 30-year-old in Beijing is almost a requirement.

The 2007 world champion admits he is feeling the pressure. “I’m an Olympic newcomer and I feel the burden, I just hope I don’t crack,” Horvath said.  Hungarians have won 21 Olympic pentathlon medals, more than any other country except Sweden which dominated the sport in its early years.

Modern pentathletes have to compete in shooting, fencing, swimming, horseriding and running — all the skills a 19th century soldier required.

The event was created by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics, on the model of the ancient pentathlon.

Coubertin said the event ;tested an athlete’s moral qualities as much as their physical resources and skills, producing thereby the ideal, complete athlete; and, initially, it was open only to soldiers.

The sport was first contested at the 1912 Games in Stockholm where Lieutenant George Patton missed a medal because of a poor shooting score.

The sport has struggled in recent Olympics because of a lack of media attention. The event was first shortened to one day from five days and then the team event was scrapped.

The IOC even considered axing modern pentathlon from the Games because it said not enough nations participated, but decided in 2005 to keep it on the programme at least until 2012.