UIPM 2022 Youth World Championships (U19/U17): All you need to know

• Teenage athletes from 34 nations gather in Lignano Sabbiadoro (ITA)
• President Schormann celebrates return of competition circuit to Italy
• Obstacle Discipline Test Event to feature on September 9/10

A new generation of teenage athletes from across six continents heard the call to gather in Italy, united by the dream of becoming world champion.

More than 260 athletes from 34 nations will take part in the first global gathering of teenage pentathletes since July 2021, when the UIPM Youth World Championships ran alongside the UIPM Junior World Championships in Alexandria (EGY).

Established pentathlon strongholds such as Egypt, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Korea and Mexico will be represented, with a strong challenge expected from host nation Italy, while emerging nations such as Pakistan, Sierra Leone and Venezuela have also sent teams to the Adriatic Sea.

The competition will offer a tantalising glimpse of the future, with many of the participants in these age groups forecasted to peak as athletes in the 2028-2032 period, when a new-look Modern Pentathlon will grace the Olympic Games in Los Angeles (USA) and Brisbane (AUS) respectively, pending approval by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Some of the more mature athletes may even be targeting the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, inspired by the success of Ahmed Elgendy of Egypt in winning Olympic silver at Tokyo 2020 only three years after he became U19 world champion.

Eight days of competition will light up the Bella Italia EFA Village in Lignano Sabbiadoro, with U19 athletes participating in Tetrathlon (Fencing, Swimming and Laser Run) and their U17 counterparts competing in a special tri-discipline Swimming / Laser Run. From 2023, the two Youth World Championships will be separated to enable U17 athletes to also experience a more comprehensive format including Fencing.

Between the individual U17 finals on September 8 and U19 finals on September 11, athletes will have an opportunity to try Obstacle Discipline on September 9/10, when New Pentathlon Discipline Test Event III takes place on a bespoke beach course. Obstacle Discipline is being tested as a potential replacement for Riding in Modern Pentathlon from Los Angeles 2028.

UIPM comments

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “I am delighted to welcome all visitors to the UIPM 2022 Youth World Championships (U19/U17), a very important competition for new generations of pentathletes and for the development of our Olympic multi-sport Modern Pentathlon.

“We can all celebrate the return of our Modern Pentathlon circuit to Italy, which has a long tradition of organising high-level UIPM international competitions in all age categories.

“My special thanks go to Prof Fabrizio Bittner, President of FIPM, and the President of the National Olympic Committee (CONI), Giovanni Malago.

“I am also grateful to President Bittner and his team for supporting the New Pentathlon Discipline Test Event that will take place here on the beach in Lignano Sabbiadoro on September 9/10.

“First we are focusing on the World Championships! My best wishes go to all athletes and I know they will achieve the best possible results in a spirit of fair play.”

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

UIPM Executive Board Member for Development, Dr Viacheslav Malishev, said: “This is a very exciting moment for a new generation of pentathletes who have come through the difficulties and delays caused by the pandemic to get their sporting dreams back on track.

“Not only did these athletes have to wait for global UIPM competitions to return, they also missed out on the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2022 after it was moved forward to 2026.

“I salute each one of them for showing the determination and versatility that are the hallmarks of a pentathlete. Thanks also to all coaches and National Federations for supporting their career goals.

“I wish every success to the athletes coming from 34 nations in all corners of the world to compete for honours at U19 and U17 level in Italy this week.”

Watch and follow

The UIPM 2022 Youth World Championships runs from September 4-11, beginning on Sunday, September 4 with the U19 Men’s Relay and U17 Women’s Individual Qualification.

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

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

Competition schedule

UIPM 2022 Youth World Championships (U19/U17)

September 4: (U19) Men’s Relay; (U17) Women’s Qualification

September 5: (U19) Women’s Relay; (U17) Men’s Qualification

September 6: (U19) Mixed Relay; (U17) Women’s Semi-finals

September 7: (U19) Women’s Qualification; (U17) Men’s Semi-finals

September 8: (U19) Men’s Qualification; (U17) Women’s Final, Men’s Final

September 9: (U19) Women’s Semi-finals; (U17) Women’s Relay

September 10: (U19) Men’s Semi-finals; (U17) Men’s Relay

September 11: (U19) Women’s Final; Men’s Final; (U17) Mixed Relay