UIPM 2025 Pentathlon U19 World Championships: Szecsi (HUN) completes summer double
Nemere Szecsi of Hungary became a double age-group world champion after a stunning comeback saw the 16-year-old win the Men’s Final at the UIPM 2025 U19 Pentathlon World Championships in Druskininkai (LTU).
Posting a new world record of 1,577 points, Szecsi (HUN) backed up his success at the recent U17 World Championships in Johannesburg (RSA) with a second consecutive individual triumph capping a glorious breakthrough summer.
Having started the Laser Run outside the top 10, both Szecsi (HUN) and Omar Amer of Egypt cut through the field with deadly precision, leaving the medal dreams of many in tatters. The eventual silver and bronze medallists also made up incredible ground, with Oleg Rybak of Ukraine rising six places from 8th to claim silver and Jhon Xavier of Brazil coming from outside the top 10 to secure bronze – his country’s first medal in a UIPM competition since 2015.
Team-mates Amer (EGY) and Sief Soliman (EGY) had contrasting days but ended up crossing the line almost together in 4th and 5th respectively, with Oleksandr Chernyshev of Ukraine completing the top six to help his team seal the Team gold medal ahead of silver medallists Egypt and 3rd-placed Czechia.
Medallists’ Reaction
Gold medalist Szecsi (HUN) said: “The final was amazing but my whole day was so tiring. I competed in the U17 World Championships and since then I have been so tired every day, and it was the same today.
“I will celebrate this win and then rest. And next season I will do my best again.”
Silver medalist Rybak (UKR) said: “My first emotion is: I did it. I will work on my shooting and next year I will come back better. My best discipline is Laser Run and today was not my best time. Now I will go back and train for the European U24 Championships.”
Bronze medallist Xavier (BRA) said: “It was very difficult because last year we had a group coming to this competition, but this year there was no funding and only myself and one team-mate could come. There was a group of people back in Brazil who raised funds for us. I am so grateful to them and to my coach.
“I won’t compete in the Senior World Championships next week but I hope to do the Pan American Junior Championships in Argentina in November.”
Fencing
Soliman (EGY) was bidding to put last year’s disappointment behind him to savour his first individual medal in a UIPM event. Now 18, he had finished 4th in this event in 2024 but having won gold in the Mixed Relay at the UIPM 2025 Pentathlon Relay World Championships, came with hope and it was backed up his exceptional Fencing performance.
A total of 27 wins and just eight defeats enabled the Egyptian to build a big early lead ahead of Matyas Stegmann of Czechia, Xavier (BRA) and Raul Pulido of Spain, each of them claiming 23 victories.
Obstacle
Germany had shown considerable mastery of the Obstacle course all week and Platon Iefremenko (GER) was out in front with a time of 23.13sec. But three others broke the 25sec barrier – Franciszek Dubrawski of Poland, Danylo Babyi (UKR) and Sebastian Forrest of Great Britain – with 23 athletes in total completing the course in less than half a minute, demonstrating the improvement in consistency.
Swimming
There was also one outstanding performer in Swimming, as Tobias Raska (CZE) shattered the 2min mark with a time of 1min 58.42sec. Dubrawski (POL) was next-fastest with 2:02.50, while Rybak (UKR) boosted his overall position with a 2:03 and Soliman (EGY) strengthened his overall lead with a 2:04.
Laser Run
Soliman (EGY) started 25sec ahead of Raska (CZE), with Maksym Kovalchuk (UKR), Mohamed Hassan (EGY) and Maksymilian Dobosz (POL) within 3sec of the Czech. At the end of a remarkable Laser Run it was astonishing that none of them was in the top six finishers.
Amer (EGY) took the plaudits for the best Laser Run time, with a stunning 9:49.80 leaving him just 9sec off the medal podium. Reuben Cawley (GBR) also broke the 10min barrier having been eliminated earlier in Obstacle. But it was Szecsi (HUN) whose 10:01.50 was the defining performance of the event, enabling him to power home with 15sec to spare from Rybak (UKR), who had a 6sec cushion over Xavier (BRA).
Watch and follow
The UIPM 2025 Pentathlon U19 World Championships has now concluded and the action moves to Kaunas (LTU) where the UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Championships takes place from August 26-30. Live coverage of the Semi-finals and Finals will be free to watch on UIPM YouTube.
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