UIPM SECRETARY GENERAL'S MESSAGE: FIRST 'WORLD CHAMPS' BRINGS A NEW BASE, NEW FACES AND A NEW STYLE

Our first-ever Obstacle World Championships marked the beginning of a new chapter for UIPM – establishing a strong base for OCR and our new Obstacle racing discipline, while also fortifying Modern Pentathlon at the Olympic peak of our movement.

This event represented a change in mindset for all of us, not least in the way the ‘World Champs’ was referred colloquially, epitomising a more laid-back vibe. Managing competitions today means being more open and creative, stepping outside traditional boundaries to deliver something truly dynamic.

Throughout the championships, we witnessed the passion and emotion of world-class Ninja and OCR specialists and the enthusiasm of young athletes who loved the sport instinctively. From the first day to the last, the atmosphere was full of appreciation and gratitude. Athletes expressed how much they valued experiencing Olympic-level standards in event organisation and implementation.

Once the races began, especially the 100m and 400m finals, it was almost impossible to look away. The excitement was contagious, and the response from the global OCR community has been overwhelming – filled with suggestions, ideas, and aspirations for the future. Many look forward to seeing younger age groups and longer distances added to future editions.

Making Pentathlon fit for the future

This event helped to strengthen the foundations of Pentathlon’s future. We are already seeing young athletes eager to enter the sport through Ninja and OCR, and new commercial and investment interest is emerging as the scale and potential of participation become clear.

While Obstacle racing demands complete physical skills, pentathletes continue to prove themselves as superhuman beings – true examples of how to make the impossible possible through versatility and determination. They remain the role models of what multi-discipline sport can achieve.

So what’s next?

Looking ahead, we will continue to build on this momentum. We will find the best ways to engage providers to discuss technical standards and equipment homologation. UIPM will keep supporting National Federations and event organisers with the equipment and knowledge they need to make this new sport accessible to all.

Our focus remains on preparing the final Pentathlon format for LA28 and aligning with the IOC’s Brisbane 2032 sporting programme decisions in 2026. We are committed to demonstrating our sport’s strength, attractiveness, universality and accessibility – the very qualities that define the future of Pentathlon and the wider Olympic movement.