Olympics-Factbox on modern pentathlon

Factbox on modern pentathlon at the August 8-24 Beijing Olympics:

HISTORY

The only sport created solely for the Olympic Games, modern pentathlon is supposed to reflect the ancient Greek ideal of the well-rounded athlete competing in several disciplines.

The ancient pentathlon, which comprised discus throw, javelin, long jump, a stadium-length race and wrestling, was practised at the Olympic Games in 708 B.C..

Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Games, designed modern pentathlon as an event that would test physical strength, technical ability, concentration and endurance, with athletes competing in shooting, fencing, swimming, riding and cross-country running, all within one day.

EVENTS

Shooting, fencing, swimming, riding and 3,000 metres cross-country running.

In shooting, the competitors shoot at a fixed target from a distance of 10 metres using a 4.5mm-calibre air pistol, with 20 shots allowed for each athlete and a time limit of 40 seconds.

For the fencing event, athletes fence once with each of their rivals which means that each competitor faces 31 opponents.

In the swimming, the men have to cover 200 metres in freestyle within two minutes 30 seconds; women have two minutes 40 seconds.

Riding involves jumping over 12 hurdles (maximum height 1.2 metres) within a time limit. Competitors are allocated an unknown horse in a random draw and have 20 minutes to familiarise themselves with their mount.

The cross-country race over three kms is always the last event. Athletes start under a handicap system, according to their points total from the previous four disciplines. The leader starts first so the first person to cross the finish line of the race wins the pentathlon.

OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION

Individual men's and women's competitions will each have 36 competitors. Each country is allowed a maximum of 2 competitors for each gender.

2004 CHAMPIONS

Men: Andrey Moiseev (Russia)

Women: Zsuzsanna Voros (Hungary)

OLYMPIC PROGRAMME

Aug. 21 - men

Aug. 22 - women

VENUES

Ying Tung Natatorium, Olympic Sports Centre Stadium, Fencing Hall

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

www.pentathlon.org

(Editing by Clare Fallon)