UIPM 2026 Pentathlon U19 World Championships: Gnedtchik (AIN) on another planet in Men's Final

The remarkable Gnedtchik family continues to excel across numerous Modern Pentathlon age groups after Akim Gnedtchik secured a big win in the Men's Final at the UIPM 2026 Pentathlon U19 World Championships in Madrid (ESP).

Competing as an individual neutral athete (AIN), Gnedtchik took a colossal lead into Laser Run after leading the way in Fencing, Obstacle Racing and Swimming, and took his foot off the pedal to finally win by 10sec from silver medallist Daniel Grove of South Africa, with dual 2025 champion (U19 and U17) Nemere Szecsi of Hungary claiming bronze.

With 29 victories in Fencing and times of 23.18sec and 54.98sec respectively in Obstacle Racing and Swimming, Gnedtchik (AIN) marked himself as a standout talent who is likely to be troubling Junior and Senior rivals in the near future. 

There was also an exciting pan-continental mix about this Men's Final, with Aly Aboelfetouh of Egypt, Jhon De Lima of Brazil and Artykbay Erasyl of Kazakhstan completing the top six.

Akim Gnedtchik (AIN) had already won the U19 Men's Relay in Madrid (ESP) alongside Aliaksandr Chuyashkou (AIN), on the same day that his sister Mariya won a senior gold medal. Their younger brother Klim Gnedtchik (AIN) has also won four medals this week in the U15 Tetrathlon World Championships.

Akim Gnedtchik (AIN) said: "This is not my first gold medal at a UIPM World Championships, but this one is very special. I trained hard. This was the main competition of the year. All my focus was here, and I am very satisfied.

"Fencing, Obstacle and Swimming were very good. My shooting in Laser Run made everyone nervous! If I had to choose one discipline, of course I am very happy with my Fencing; it helped me to remain first.

"In a week we will have the European U19 Championships, but my main goal in the next season is Olympic qualification and I want to have a place at the European Games in Istanbul to qualify for LA28. I was very happy and proud to compete here with my younger brother who got four medals, and I wish my sister the same successful competitions as we had here with Klim."