UIPM 2025 Pentathlon U17 World Championships: Khalil (EGY) and Szecsi (HUN) take golden memories home from Johannesburg (RSA)

• Grand slam bid remains intact for record-breaking Egyptian starlet
• Hungarian hunger for U17 glory satisfied after last year’s near miss
• Medal joy for Allara (ITA), Meric (TUR), Thomatos (RSA) and Abdelmgeed (EGY)

The Pentathlon powerhouses of Egypt and Hungary finished on top of the podium after a gripping five days at the UIPM 2025 Pentathlon U17 World Championships.

With athletes from 19 countries across four continents taking part, the two nations currently in possession of world titles across most age groups – not to mention the Olympic gold medals from Paris 2024 – celebrated victory in the individual and team competitions.

Farida Khalil (EGY), the 14-year-old phenomenon, scored her third consecutive U17 gold medal having already made 2025 memorable with the junior (U22) world title, the Pentathlon World Cup Final and two Pentathlon World Cups. With two age-group World Championships as well as the flagship senior competition to come (see details below), there remains a tantalising prospect of a clean sweep for this extraordinary starlet.

Khalil (EGY) was out in front again in Johannesburg (RSA), setting new world records across Obstacle and Overall, with Annachiara Allara of Italy claiming silver and Tatiana Thomatos of South Africa, last year’s U15 world champion, bringing the joy of an individual bronze medal – as well as Women’s Team silver – to the host nation.

·       Read the Women’s Final report

·       Read the Women’s Qualification report

Having finished 4th last year, separated from bronze by an agonising 1sec, Nemere Szecsi of Hungary left nothing to chance this time and finished 12sec ahead of silver medallist Arda Meric of Türkiye, with Momen Abdelmgeed (EGY) adding a second individual medal to tip the overall scales in favour of the North Africans.

·       Read the Men’s Final report

·       Read the Men’s Qualification report

MEDALLISTS' REACTION

Women’s gold medallist Khalil (EGY) said: “I am very happy with this performance and to get a new world record in the OCR, just a few weeks after winning the World Cup Final. I will try to go to the U19 World Championships.

“I’m still an U15 athlete but it’s totally different between the Junior and Senior competitions. I am very excited to go to the senior World Championships too. I am aiming for a gold medal for sure. I’m training very hard for that.”

Silver medallist Allara (ITA) said: “I’m very happy. This was my best race, in Fencing, Obstacle and Swimming too. Laser Run wasn’t the best but I’m happy to end the day with this silver medal.

“Last year I was 5th because I fell on the obstacles and it was really emotional. My Fencing sometimes isn’t the best but today was really good. I’m going to the U19 World Championships next and I want to enjoy every race, every training and see what I can do. I hope the Olympics in 2028 will happen but I want to enjoy and always do my best.”

Bronze medallist Thomatos (RSA) said: “I feel honoured. I feel so grateful for this moment, especially in Johannesburg, in my home country. I can’t believe it. I was aiming for top 10, I didn’t think that I could get a medal so I am very, very happy.

“I would say my Fencing put me in a good position. It started off a bit rocky but then it went really well. My Obstacle course pushed me up a couple of places. Swimming kept me in 11th position and my Laser Run, wow! I think it’s a really big improvement for the country getting a Team medal and I hope for many more medals. We all worked really hard for this.”

PRESIDENT’S REACTION

UIPM President Rob Stull OLY said: “South Africa put themselves back on the map in the sport of Pentathlon after successfully hosting the UIPM U17 World Championships in Johannesburg.

“The organisation was flawless, the weather perfect, and if hundreds of smiling young athletes are an indicator of success, then this event was hugely successful —and even earned South Africa a place on the podium in their first hosting of a major full Pentathlon event in 18 years. Huge congratulations to them and to everyone involved who will take special memories home from Africa’s largest city.