UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo: Finals report, reaction and links
- First World Cup medals for teen sensation and top-five Olympic finisher
- Neutral athletes Hureyeva and Malashenoka deny Gulyas (HUN) medal
- Silver for Koleszar (HUN) as Shaban (EGY) holds on for bronze
Modern Pentathlon’s most exciting talent confirmed her arrival on the elite scene on the final day of an historic UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo.
Fourteen-year-old Farida Khalil of Egypt, who has been sweeping up age-group world titles for the past couple of years, was unleashed on the seniors in the week they tackled Obstacle for the first time – and showed them how it was done across all five disciplines.
Many had expected Michelle Gulyas of Hungary to be the main threat to Khalil (EGY) in this morning’s Women’s Final but the Paris 2024 Olympic champion had to accept 4th place after strong performances by silver medallist Viyaleta Hureyeva and bronze medallist Anastasiya Malashenoka, both competing with Individual Neutral Athlete (AIN) status.
In remarkable scenes, Khalil (EGY) received her gold medal from International Olympic Committee Member Aya Medany OLY, who herself competed in the first of three Olympic Games at the age of 15. Few would be surprised if Khalil (EGY) became a star of LA28, such has been her meteoric development.
Matteo Cicinelli of Italy was one of the stars of Paris 2024, surprising many with a 5th-placed finish in his debut Olympics. Now he can add “World Cup champion” to his CV after fending off the challenge of former junior world champion Mihaly Koleszar of Hungary and local favourite Mohanad Shaban (EGY), who clung on to bronze after a fierce Laser Run.
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 Khalil (EGY) said: “I am very happy to get this medal, and I worked very hard to get it. It is something special. All the hard work I did in the last few years went into getting this medal, and it’s the first step towards getting the Olympic medal.”
Asked how she had managed her fasting obligations after the beginning of Ramadan on February 28, she answered: “My dream is bigger than any kind of fasting. I showed that I needed to get this medal, and I got it.”
Women’s silver medallist Hureyeva (AIN) said: “Obstacle is a new discipline and I was really happy to compete in it. If the Obstacle had gone a little better and the shooting a little, little better, I could have won. But I have been doing this a long time, I love everyone who has helped me to get here, and hi to my relatives.”
Women’s gold medallist Malashenoka (AIN) said: “It was really unexpected. I want to thank my coaches, especially Alexander Yatsenko, and say hi to my relatives in Minsk. I know they are there and they are watching me.”
Asked how she handled the pressure of competing in Laser Run against the Olympic champion, she said: “Honestly, I was thinking about it when I was running. It was so hard, but also really nice to compete against these girls.”
Men’s gold medallist Cicinelli (ITA) said: “It’s my first World Cup podium, and getting a gold medal is unexpected, especially because of the new Obstacle discipline. I did amazing today, and that gave me a very good chance to win the gold.
“I have to admit, I love how UIPM is changing the rules, especially these kind of rules in Fencing and Obstacle. I kind of like it. My expectation one week ago was to go and get experience to take to the next competition, and European and World Championships. A gold medal was way beyond my expectations.
“I like to think it’s mother nature, but I need to train more to win the Obstacle discipline, which is the key to every gold medal – training.”
Men’s silver medallist Koleszar (HUN) said: “This is my first one and hopefully not the last one. What can I say? Athletes dream, and the dream comes true. Here I am, I’m really proud and happy and thankful for all the coaches and professionals who helped me to get here.
“I’m really proud to be part of one of the best nations, and to be here and represent Hungary … I can’t say anything else.
“We shall miss our four-legged horse friends, but this one is something. We love it.
“These athletes were at the Olympics, and this is amazing. I wasn’t expecting this result, I came here to test myself and this result came back, and I feel really good.”
Men’s bronze medallist Shaban (EGY) said: “I have to take the bronze medal. Maybe this is the first time I got a medal in Cairo. In the shooting today, I struggled too much. Maybe it was a bad day, but I’m happy because I did the new Obstacle race very well.
“I’m also happy that the smallest Shaban is in the top 10, as well as Mohamed Hassan and Moutaz Mohamed. Congratulations to all of them, we have a very good team, and with the new discipline I believe Egypt will be the best in it.
“I’m happy that I got the bronze medal, but in my situation, I should have got the gold medal because I’m a good shooter and a good runner. After the first shoot was so bad, I told myself there would be a good finish, so save the energy.”
President’s reaction
UIPM President Rob Stull OLY said: “ What a great start to the season and the LA28 quad. This was a competition that tested our athletes in so many ways and you could see the progression each day - underlining just how versatile these athletes are. The technical team also did an amazing job overseeing the new format.
“I’d like to thank our Egyptian hosts for being gracious and hospitable as always, and for once again providing incredible athletes who excelled not only in the new Obstacle discipline but across the board.
"I congratulate all athletes who took part here in Cairo and demonstrated their readiness to embrace the future of our great sport."
Watch and follow
Pentathlon World Cup Cairo has now concluded and the next major competition on the calendar is UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest from April 22-26.
Have you got the app? Download UIPM Central via Apple or Google to keep track of the latest news and results – or visit the UIPM website.
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