This is a modern pentathlon. It is a multidisciplinary sport that combines swimming, fencing, horse riding, and shooting and running.

While not as popular as some disciplines, the modern pentathlon is nothing new; It dates back to the early 1900s and in fact, the Olympic rings are inspired by its 5 modalities.

Here in Cali, the Club Campestre facility south of the city was the perfect setting for the development of the modern pentathlon in history’s first Pan American Junior game.

Rafael Acosta is Argentina’s national coach for the sport. He commented that the athletes’ commitment should be daily and very strong. Between 6 and 8 hours a day, from Monday to Saturday (sometimes 7 days a week) and 3 disciplines are trained daily.

Acosta speaks passionately about modern pentathlon and uses the same tone of voice to say that Cali has accepted it with open arms: “they are very friendly, very kind people who have made us feel right at home”. He knows that the world of sport is making history at these Junior Pan American Games: “The young people here are the athletes of tomorrow. The best of these jousts were not only at the Pan American Games but at the Olympics as well; then the important thing is that this version is a total success”, added the Argentine coach.

The Junior Pan American Games conclude this weekend but leave a great legacy for Cali, an important economic revival and above all, that every national and foreign participant will carry our Sultana del Valle in their hearts to make history in their respective countries.

DATA

-The 5 disciplines of the modern pentathlon are graded by points and time.

-Athletes who perform best in each discipline in each competition, move up in the general table and gain advantages and possible medals

-This is a sport that is a bit expensive at first because of the elements that must be obtained but, in turn, has a long endurance

-Historically the countries with the most Olympic medals in modern pentathlon are the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom.

-This sport was born on the initiative of Pierre de Coubertin, creator of the Modern Olympic Games.

Juliana Rosero Berrio