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) at the weekend with 69 out of 83 votes. Recently there had been several test competitions in the new discipline. Show jumping had become intolerable at the latest with the scandal surrounding the German athlete Annika Schleu at the Olympic Games in summer 2021. 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 a whip, and the pictures sparked major protests.
The cancellation of show jumping will only take effect after the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. The pentathlon is not yet part of the Olympic program for 2028. The decision to use the obstacle course, made popular by the game show Ninja Warrior, is said to improve the pentathlon’s odds as Los Angeles 2028 approaches. The course is even “the only answer”, said the German UIPM President Klaus Schormann now. If the sport loses its place at the Olympics, “we will only belong in the Olympic Museum,” says Schormann.
Air and earth obstacles have to be mastered on the course. IOC President Thomas Bach recently said that the future of the pentathlon also depends on “how the association replaces the equestrian competition”.
Violent opposition had recently come from the group of athletes. The interest group Pentathlon United complained that the executive of the world association ignored the majority opinion of the athletes who wanted to preserve equestrian sport. A group around the former pentathlete Alex Watson had recently asked Schormann to resign.
The 76-year-old rejected that, now survived a vote of no confidence at the digitally held congress of the world association and remains at the top of the UIPM. 18 delegates voted for Schormann’s dismissal, 55 voted against, 17 votes were invalid.
