UIPM 2022 Pentathlon Junior World Championships: All you need to know

• All six Modern Pentathlon continents represented in Zielona Gora (POL)
• Castaudi (FRA) and Elgendy (EGY) shoulder high expectations
• Obstacle Discipline Test Event to feature on October 7/8

With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games less than two years away, many emerging hopefuls will use the UIPM 2022 Pentathlon Junior World Championships to measure their progress.

Athletes from 23 nations will take part in the Under 22 competition, which was held last year in Alexandria (EGY) after a break in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It will be a pan-continental gathering with all six Modern Pentathlon Confederations (Africa, Asia, Europe, NORCECA, Oceania and South America) represented in Zielona Gora (POL).

Established pentathlon strongholds such as Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy and Lithuania will be represented, with a strong challenge expected from host nation Poland, while Japan and Kazakhstan will spearhead the Asian challenge and the Americas are well represented by teams from Brazil, Guatemala and United States – perhaps eyeing the longer-term Olympic target of Los Angeles 2028.

Numerous competing athletes have already enjoyed breakthrough successes at senior level, not least Mohamed Elgendy (EGY) who became a world silver medallist in July 2022. Tokyo 2020 Olympian and 2022 Women’s Relay world champion Amira Kandil (EGY) – a Fencing specialist – is expected to be a contender on the women’s side.

With Paris 2024 looming ever closer, host nation France will have high hopes of success with defending champion Rebecca Castaudi (FRA) and Youth Olympic Games Buenos Aires 2018 bronze medallist Ugo Fleurot (FRA) on the team.

Emma Whitaker (GBR) represents a strong British women’s unit; she started the season with bronze in UIPM 2022 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo. Paula Valencia (GUA) comes fresh from becoming NORCECA Junior champion in Santo Domingo (DOM) in August.

Elzbieta Adomaityte (LTU) and Rita Erdos (HUN) will be targeting the gold medal after finishing 3rd and 4th respectively last year, while Alida van der Merwe (RSA) has senior podium experience having won silver at the 2019 African Championships in Cairo (EGY).

Australia will have three women athletes coming fresh from success in the UIPM 2022 Laser Run World Championships in Lisbon (POR), where Zara Temesi (AUS) became U19 champion.

Roman Popov of Ukraine has won world and European silver at U19 level this year, but otherwise it is hard to identify the individuals most likely to give Elgendy (EGY) and his prolific team a run for their money.

Noureldin Karim (EGY) was a Mixed Relay winner at UIPM 2022 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest, and Moutaz Mohamed (EGY) arrives in Poland as the reigning U19 world champion.

Having won a senior world bronze medal in the Men’s Relay earlier this year, team-mates Filip Houska (CZE) and Matous Tuma (CZE) will be targeting success, while younger duo Titas Puronas (LTU) and Nojus Chmieliauskas (LTU) come fresh from winning gold at U19 level in Lignano Sabbiadoro (ITA) last month.

The Men’s Relay could indeed be a classic battle as last year’s winners – Vladyslav Chekan and Yuriy Kovalchuk (UKR) – return to defend their title despite the conflict that has devastated their homeland in the intervening period.

On the seventh and eighth days of competition, athletes will have an opportunity to try Obstacle Discipline as New Pentathlon Discipline Test Event IV takes place on a bespoke course at the venue.

Obstacle Discipline is being tested as a potential replacement for Riding in Modern Pentathlon from Los Angeles 2028, and Test Event IV is the last schedule opportunity to trial the concept before UIPM Congress votes on proposals to go to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in November.

President’s welcome

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “The UIPM Pentathlon Junior World Championships is paramount to the development of pentathletes who will soon reach the top level of our Olympic multi-sport Modern Pentathlon.

“Poland has a proud history of organising high-level UIPM international competitions in all age categories. Back in 1976, Zielona Gora hosted the Junior Modern Pentathlon World Championships and I remember being involved as leader of the German team. My gratitude goes to all involved in the preparation of this important competition.

“I welcome all athletes and their support teams to Poland, and I ask all participants to remember the spirit of Pierre de Coubertin and respect the Olympic values as we together enjoy the glory of our wonderful sport of Modern Pentathlon.”

President Dr Schormann’s welcome address can be read in full at the UIPM website.

Watch and follow

The UIPM 2022 Junior World Championships runs from October 2-9, beginning on Sunday, October 2 with the Women’s Relay.

Visit the UIPM website or download “UIPM Central” from your app store to keep track of live results throughout the UIPM 2022 Junior World Championships.

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

Competition schedule

UIPM 2022 Pentathlon Junior World Championships

October 2: Women’s Relay

October 3: Men’s Relay

October 4: Women’s Qualification

October 5: Men’s Qualification

October 6: Women’s Semi-finals

October 7: Men’s Semi-finals

October 8: Women’s Final; Men’s Final

October 9: Mixed Relay