UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest: Finals report, reaction and links
- Homecoming glory for Paris 2024 Olympic champion Gulyas (HUN)
- Another gold for Egypt as Mohamed (EGY) storms back from 9th
- Two medals apiece for Hungary, Egypt and France after epic Super Saturday
Three countries shared the spoils on an epic Super Saturday as an electrifying UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest came to a close.
Paris 2024 Olympic champion Michelle Gulyas returned to Hungary with only gold on her mind and duly delivered on that promise in a thrilling Women’s Final in her native capital city.
Fourteen-year-old sensation Farida Khalil of Egypt claimed silver after another remarkable performance and was joined on the podium by another teenager, as 19-year-old Coline Flavin of France achieved her maiden Pentathlon World Cup medal.
Three hours later, Moutaz Mohamed (EGY) came from nowhere to snatch his first elite gold medal at the end of an even more eventful Men’s Final.
The 20-year-old Mohamed (EGY), a two-time silver medallist last season, destroyed the field from a Laser Run starting position of 9th after his team-mate Mohamed El Ashqar (EGY) lost a big lead. Mihaly Koleszar (HUN) had the final say in a sprint finish to take silver ahead of first-time medallist Ugo Fleurot (FRA).
The competition was held largely indoors in a compact facility at BOK Sports Hall, enabling organisers to create a captivating show for the many spectators and viewers on TV and online.
Click here to read the Women’s Final report
Click here to read the Men’s Final report
Click here to view photography from the Finals
Medallist reaction
Women’s gold medallist Gulyas (HUN) said: “Winning will never get boring. I’m back, I’m stronger than ever, and everyone be afraid! No, I’m just kidding.
“The crowd was amazing, the venue was amazing and I think these things helped me to be so strong today, because if I enjoy competing, this is how I am the best. This is what happened today.
“All of my disciplines were very good. I had a little reserve from my Swimming and this is what helped me in the final Laser Run event.”
Women’s silver medallist Khalil (EGY) said: “I am not happy with the silver medal. I took the decision to go to China for the Fencing World Championship, and then I came here to start the Pentathlon competition two days before it began.
“Next time I will come for the gold and I will be happy to get the [Olympic] gold in 2028. I like the challenge, and every time I come to a competition I like to win the gold.”
Women’s bronze medallist Flavin (FRA) said: “It was a very good day for me, I am very, very happy. I won Fencing, which was incredible for me, and I did my personal best in Swimming. After that I was a little tired but I shot very well, it was my best shoot of the week so I’m very happy.”
Men’s gold medallist Mohamed (EGY) said: “I sometimes doubt myself, and I wasn’t sure I could make it. Along the day it was a rough competition for me – very bad fence, very bad OCR, but really great Laser Run. So I’m very happy, I can’t express my feeling right now.
“Of course it’s amazing after losing the qualification for the Olympics, which was very frustrating. But from the day I lost it, I told myself I would be ready to go and get the gold. I’m looking forward to LA28 with the new Obstacle and the challenge ahead of me.
“I’m getting ready – wait for me at the Olympics.”
Men’s silver medallist Koleszar (HUN) said: “I can say nothing except I am so grateful to be here, to compete in front of all my family and friends – that was amazing. These athletes in the Finals are so great and I’m so happy to be here and to get another podium.”
Men’s bronze medallist Fleurot (FRA) said: “After four long days I reached the podium and I worked very hard for that.
“It’s the beginning of four years. We have to go to 2028 and the French team has super athletes, good friends who make me push a lot every day at work, and that’s why today I could fight until the end.
“I want to thank my family, my friends, my coach, all the people who worked together with me. This is for you too.
“It’s a great team. The older ones give us advice, the younger ones push us, especially in Obstacle racing. They started early and now they give us advice that we can put into action, so we are all a unit and that’s why we are a super team.”
Watch and follow
Pentathlon World Cup Budapest has now concluded and the next major competition on the calendar is UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Cup Pazardzhik in Bulgaria from May 07-11.
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