UIPM President’s View: Fit For The Future is more than a goal, it’s a mindset

The adaptations made to Modern Pentathlon over the past couple of decades have often centred around the question: what does the future look like for our sport, and what does it look like for the Olympic Movement?

Today, I believe we have a roadmap to answering that question.

The phrase "Fit For The Future" has become increasingly familiar across the Olympic landscape. The International Olympic Committee has challenged all International Federations to think differently about how sport can remain relevant, sustainable, engaging and accessible in a rapidly changing world.

The truth is that this is a vision I greatly admire.

Through Olympic Agenda 2020, Agenda 2020+5 and now the Fit For The Future initiative, the IOC has encouraged sports to innovate, modernise and continually improve the experience they offer to athletes, fans, hosts and partners. That is not simply good for individual sports. It is good for the Olympic Movement as a whole.

A stronger, more adaptable Olympic Movement benefits everyone. It creates better opportunities for athletes, greater value for organisers and more compelling experiences for audiences around the world.

At UIPM, we have not simply reacted to that challenge. We have been working towards it for years – and now it has a name, Fit For The Future.

The transformation of Modern Pentathlon has been one of the most significant projects undertaken by any Olympic sport. We have reimagined our competition format, embraced innovation and listened carefully to athletes, fans, organisers and Olympic stakeholders. Most importantly, we have done so while protecting the identity and values that have defined our sport more than a century.

The result is a Pentathlon product that is faster, more dynamic and more accessible than ever before.

Embracing obstacle racing has created an exciting new discipline that connects naturally with younger generations and new audiences around the world. Last week we announced a strategic cross-promotion and intellectual-property partnership with Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), the network that gave Ninja Warrior to the world. On Friday 5 June we will bring TV, Olympic sport and Hollywood together under one roof in a special celebration of this deal in the Olympic host city of Los Angeles.

Pentathlon has already become easier to understand, easier to host and easier to present in indoor / outdoor environments and iconic locations. At the same time, the combination of Fencing, Obstacle, Swimming and Laser Run continues to provide the unique all-round athletic challenge that makes Pentathlon unlike any other Olympic sport.

Being ‘Fit For The Future’ is not a destination. It is a dedicated mindset committed to maintaining relevance and attractiveness to young generations and the Olympic Values.

No sport can afford to stand still. Athletes change, audiences change, technology changes and expectations change. The federations that thrive will be those that continue to listen, learn and adapt. That is the mindset we have adopted at UIPM. We are proud of the progress we have made, but we know innovation is not a project with a finish line. It is an ongoing responsibility.

Today, we are seeing the results.

The spectacular indoor presentation of the UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Championships in Kaunas, Lithuania demonstrated what Pentathlon can become when sport and entertainment come together in a meaningful way. Packed arenas, athlete-focused presentation, innovative production and an electric atmosphere showed that our sport can thrive in modern sporting environments while remaining true to its competitive roots.

We will see that spirit again very soon at UIPM 2026 Pentathlon World Cup Budapest from June 9-13.

Once again, our goal is simple. We want to showcase elite sport while creating an unforgettable experience for everyone watching in the venue and around the world.

I often say ‘Enjoy The Show’ ahead of these marquee events and I mean it.

Modern Pentathlon was designed to be and has always been a remarkable sporting challenge. Today, we are proving that it can also be a remarkable sporting spectacle.

We respect our history. We are proud of our heritage and of Coubertin and his vision – but that is not enough. We must be laser-focused on what comes next.

UIPM and our flagship sport, Modern Pentathlon, are constantly innovating to ensure that we can always say yes, our sport is Fit For The Future.