UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Championships: Mohamed becomes Egypt's first world champion with glorious Men's Final victory

Having won everything else in the sport, Egypt celebrated the crowning of Africa’s first individual world champion as Moutaz Mohamed romped to success in the Men’s Final at the UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Championships in Kaunas (LTU).

Mohamed (EGY) is a Laser Run specialist who tends to cut though the pack from distance, but this time his consistency across Fencing, Obstacle and Swimming enabled him to start 16sec behind joint leaders Matteo Bovenzi of Italy and Mathis Rochat of France.

The Europeans were no match for Mohamed (EGY) from that distance, and he executed his skills to dominate the Laser Run and add the world champion title to his success in the UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Cup Final earlier in the season.

Finally he prevailed  by 17sec from Rochat (FRA), a world junior champion two years ago and now senior silver medallist, and Matej Lukes of Czechia, another breakthrough star who had his first podium experience at the World Cup Final and today added bronze to silver.

Behind them, James Hulme of Great Britain beat 2024 silver medallist Balazs Szep of Hungary to 4th place, with Yuriy Kovalchuk of Ukraine completing the top six and leading his country to Team silver. Rochat (FRA) was joined by Ugo Fleurot and Leo Bories on top of the Team podium.

Fencing

As the leading fencer from the Seeding Round, Titas Puronas of Lithuania had the dual advantage of a favourable draw and a home crowd behind him. But with the bottom seed, Andras Gall (HUN), having progressed all the way through to win Fencing his Semi-final, nothing was certain.

Puronas (LTU) started with a solid victory in the Top 16 but then needed all his nerve to overcome Tim Leh of Germany in the Top 8. Leh (GER) led 2-0 with 6sec remaining, but Puronas (LTU) struck back and then caught the crucial second touch with only 0.6sec left on the clock to progress with priority.

Meanwhile, Bovenzi (ITA) accounted for both Hungarian athletes before being stopped by Rochat (FRA) in the Top 8. Rochat’s team-mate Bories (FRA) also progressed until he was stopped by the world No.1.

Mohamed (EGY) started with a familiar challenge in the Top 16, facing up to the best fencer on his national team. Mohanad Shaban (EGY) had the priority but he was outwitted by Mohamed (EGY), who progressed 3-1 before defeating Bories (FRA) 5-3. Roman Popov (UKR) completed the Top 4 line-up with some immaculate piste work.

Surprisingly, Popov (UKR) could not reproduce the same form in the Top 4 and was dispatched by Puronas (LTU), as the crowd exploded with glee. Meanwhile Mohamed (EGY) finally met his match in Rochat (FRA), but there was no denying the local favourite his heroic moment. Rochat (FRA) was no match for Puronas (LTU) and half of the Zalgiris Arena as he was roared to victory and the maximum 250 points.

1. Puronas (LTU) 250pts
2. Rochat (FRA) 244pts
3. Popov (UKR) 238pts

Obstacle

The rapid progression of pentathletes on a challenging Obstacle course this week has been impressive, and there wasn’t a single fall, elimination or failure to finish as the 18 men’s finalists produced a remarkable level of skill.

Tiny margins separated the fastest racers, with Pau Salomo of Spain achieving a 25.82 while Rochat (FRA) ranked 2nd in another discipline, timing 26.08 for the same points boost as Bories (FRA) and Bovenzi (ITA), with Hulme (GBR) and Lukes (CZE) also breaking the 27sec mark.

1. Salomo (ESP) 368pts
2. Rochat (FRA) 367pts
3. Bories (FRA) 367pts

Overall: Rochat (FRA) 611; Hulme (GBR) 596; Bories (FRA) 595

Swimming

Bovenzi (ITA) was already in a good position heading into his signature discipline, and a typically bullish time of 1min 54.98sec enabled him to climb the leaderboard to the very apex. Lukes (CZE) also put himself right in contention with a 2:03.27, as did Mohamed (EGY) with a 2:04.10 that left him eyeing the leaders from a distance he knew was attainable.

1. Bovenzi (ITA) 321pts
2. Lukes (CZE) 304pts
3. Mohamed (EGY) 302pts

Overall: Bovenzi (ITA) 912; Rochat (FRA) 912; Mohamed (EGY) 896

Laser Run

Rochat (FRA) immediately eased away from his joint starter, Bovenzi (ITA), while Mohamed (EGY) wasted no time in moving into the silver-medal position. Rochat (FRA) struck a 10sec shoot at the second visit to the range but Mohamed (EGY) matched him and then flew into the lead in the outdoor section and reached shooting with a 6sec lead. Meanwhile Lukes (CZE) made a big move into 4th.

At the business end of the race, Mohamed (EGY) did have one blip in the 3rd shoot. This time the green lights took 16sec to flash and Rochat (FRA) reduced the gap, while Lukes (CZE) moved past Bovenzi (ITA) into a podium position.

There has been no stopping Mohamed (EGY) in the showpiece competitions this season. He timed his form spike beautifully to win the Pentathlon World Cup Final, and now found himself on the verge of completing a double crown. The final shoot was irresistibly quick, allowing him a victory lap.

Behind him, Rochat (FRA) and Lukes (CZE) continued to remain unflappable under pressure, and knowing that gold was beyond them they revelled in their first big moments at a senior World Championships, Lukes (CZE) in particular celebrating wildly at the finish line.

Roberto Micheli (ITA) set the fastest Laser Run time of 10:15.70, rising to 8th position overall to finish a strong breakthrough season.

1. Micheli (ITA) 685pts
2. Mohamed (EGY) 683pts
3. Szep (HUN) 683pts

Overall: Mohamed (EGY) 1579; Rochat (FRA) 1562; Lukes (CZE) 1547.