UIPM 2021 Youth World Championships (U19 and U17): The next generation of stars gather in Alexandria (EGY) 

• New crop of global talent vie for coveted world champion crowns 
• Host nation has high hopes as almost 130 athletes from 24 countries compete 
• UIPM President hails first major UIPM competition after Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games 

If good things come to those who wait, then great things are on the way for the next generation of Modern Pentathlon stars. After a two-year break, the cream of the upcoming global crop will gather in Egypt in the coming days for an action-packed week that will see a host of new world champions crowned.  

Beginning September 13, the UIPM 2021 Youth World Championships (U19 and U17) will take place over seven frenetic days of competition at the Arab Academy for Science Technology & Maritime Transport in Alexandria (EGY). The venue also played host to an exhilarating UIPM 2021 Pentathlon Junior World Championships in July. 

The Youth championships had originally been scheduled for mid-July but were pushed back as the UIPM Executive Board ensured participant health and safety was absolutely paramount. They will be the first UIPM Youth World Championships since those held in Sofia (BUL) in July 2019.  

The extended gap only serves to make the competition all the more intriguing with so much new talent on show in Alexandria, three years out from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where the new Modern Pentathlon format will be introduced. 

Almost 130 competitors from across 24 countries will take part in the global gathering of the best athletes at the Under 19 and Under 17 grade. It’s fitting that it should take place in Egypt. Not only has the country played a huge part in the return of Modern Pentathlon competitions in 2021 but Egypt has also been a prolific nation at youth levels of the sport.  

The host nation is also coming off the huge high of Ahmed Elgendy’s Olympic silver medal at this summer’s Tokyo Games. Elgendy’s journey from UIPM Youth World Champion in 2018 to the Olympic podium in the space of three years will likely serve as inspiration to all those gathering in Alexandria.  

COVID-19 protocols 

Like all UIPM competitions held so far in 2021, the UIPM 2021 Youth World Championships (U19 and U17) will be run according to a set of COVID-19 Coronavirus protocols designed to prioritise the health and safety of all participants – athletes, coaches, technical officials and organisers. 

Protocols are applied to all aspects of each competition from inbound and outbound travel to accommodation and local transportation, with the intention of minimising risk of COVID-19 infections. Special publications including the Event Organizers Infection Prevention Guidelines and Operational Vade Mecum can be found at UIPM’s COVID-19 information page. 

Athletes To Watch 

The host nation’s success at youth levels has already been noted but it bears repeating. Egypt have had a veritable conveyor belt of young talent in recent years and these championships are likely to see plenty of home contenders with 11 women and 9 men competing.  

Malak Ismail is among the most promising of the Egyptian women but there will be rising stars aplenty. The Czech Republic’s Lucie Hlavackova and Mira Buraya of Belarus arrive in Alexandria on the back of stellar performances at the 2021 UIPM Youth European Championships (U17) in Portugal where the finished first and second respectively.  

On the men’s side the host nation is likely to have its hands full with multiple challengers from Russia. Egor Zorkin and Timofei Popov led a Russian takeover of the Men’s podium in Portugal. Jakob Rasmuson of Sweden will also be travelling to this competition with eyes on the podium, having taken silver in Sofia two years ago.   

The beauty of these Championships, however, is the promise that a new raft of athletes will make their names known as they continue to blaze a trail in the sport. 

President’s Welcome 

“I am happy to welcome the youth of the world to the UIPM 2021 Youth (U19 and U17) World Championships, here in Alexandria. In the next days, the athletes from 25 nations will have the chance to compete in the wonderful facilities at the Arab Academy For Science, Technology & Maritime Transport campus.

“I would like to extend my thanks to the team of the Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation who, under the leadership of my dear friend Sharif El-Erian, will make this competition come true.

“This competition is a message for the future as we are celebrating the first major Pentathlon event after the Tokyo Olympic Games with our next generation of athletes. I hope that, whilst competing, the athletes find the time to build ever-lasting friendships and open their minds to the different cultures from around the world.

This competition and the performances coming with it wouldn't be possible without the work of the trainers and of the wider Modern Pentathlon movement and family who are supporting the athletes and allowing them to compete.”

Watch and follow 

The UIPM 2021 Youth World Championships (U19 and U17) in Alexandria (EGY) runs from September 13 to September 19, beginning on Monday, September 13 with the U19 Men's Relay. 

Visit the UIPM website or download “UIPM Central” from your app store to keep track of live results throughout the UIPM 2021 Youth World Championships (U19 and U17). 

Follow World Pentathlon on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, VK or Weibo throughout the season for additional content. 

Competition schedule 

UIPM 2021 Youth World Championships (U19 and U17) 

September 13: U19 Men’s Relay 

September 14: U19 Women’s Relay 

September 15: U17 Women’s Final; U19 Mixed Relay 

September 16: U17 Men’s Final 

September 17: U17 Women’s Relay 

September 18: U17 Men’s Relay; U19 Women’s Final 

September 19: U17 Mixed Relay; U19 Men’s Final