UIPM Secretary General’s Message: The perfect rhythm of Pentathlon means you can’t even take a toilet break

I came away from the 20th Asian Games in Japan feeling enormously proud of what Pentathlon has become, and even more excited about where it is going.

One of the clearest signs of progress was the breadth of participation. The number of qualified National Federations from Asia had doubled, bringing more countries, more young athletes and many new faces into an Asian Games Pentathlon competition.

It was inspiring to see athletes from different backgrounds embrace the sport, show their talent and demonstrate how much more accessible Pentathlon is becoming across the continent.

But participation was only part of the story. What struck me just as strongly was the atmosphere around the competition.

The stands were full. There were cheers, screams and constant engagement from the spectators. And there was a perfect rhythm to the competition. With such short breaks between disciplines, everything connects.

As a spectator, you quickly realise that you cannot afford to disappear for very long – even a visit to the bathroom might mean missing an important part of the action!

That may sound like a small detail, but to me it says something important about the evolution of our sport. Pentathlon today keeps moving. There is very little waiting and very little opportunity for the energy to drop.

It was interesting to hear this impression echoed by visitors looking at the sport through different eyes. We were delighted to welcome the CEO and senior executives of Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) to the Finals, and they were impressed by the excitement of the competition and surprised by how dynamic and dramatic Pentathlon has become, compared with their previous perception of the sport.

At TBS, the creator of SASUKE and owner of the Ninja Warrior global franchise, they know all about turning an athletic challenge into a show.

I heard something very similar from CCTV reporters covering the event. One of them said to me: “Nowadays Pentathlon’s rhythm is so fast, we have to be so quick to follow the whole competition. There is no dead time.”

That observation stayed with me because it captured exactly what we had been experiencing throughout the competition. It was also reflected in independent media coverage from people witnessing this new version of Pentathlon for themselves, such as a visiting reporter from InsideTheGames.

These outside perspectives are valuable. We know the work that has gone into transforming Pentathlon, but it means even more when broadcasters, media, spectators and new audiences experience the sport and immediately recognise the change.

For many years we have spoken about making Pentathlon more accessible, more attractive and better connected to the expectations of today’s athletes and audiences. In Japan, I felt we could see the result of that work very clearly.

More countries were competing. A new generation of athletes was emerging. The spectators were engaged from beginning to end. And people who arrived with an older perception of Pentathlon left talking about its speed, excitement and drama.

So, is Pentathlon fit for the future?

On the evidence of the recent Asian Games competition, following other spectacular competitions in 2025 and 2026, the question can only be answered one way. And the future is not something we are simply preparing for. Many observers have the impression that the new Pentathlon is already here.

In case you would like a visual example of what I’m talking about, take a look at our Future Pentathlon video and see for yourself.