Modern+Pentathlon


 * [[image:Modern_Pentathlon_2004_Olympicslamkbrlamkbrlamkbrlamkbr.jpg width="309" height="415"]] || Modern Pentathlon

Modern Pentathlon has been part of every Olympic Games since Stockholm 1912. The sport was invented by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who founded the modern Olympic movement.

How to Play Athletes compete in five different sports. The order of events is Fencing, Swimming, Riding and the combined Running and Shooting event. Points are awarded according to how well the athletes do in each of the events. **Fencing:** Pentathletes are required to fence once with every other competitor in sudden death matches. The target area is the whole body. If neither competitor has scored a hit after one minute they both counted a defeat. A total score of 25 victories equals 1,000 points. **Swimming:** The swimming event is a 200m free-style race, with athletes seeded in heats according to their personal best time. Times are translated into Pentathlon points, with 2m 30s equating to 1,000 Pentathlon points. **Riding:** Pentathletes ride unfamiliar horses over a 350-450m course that features 12 show-jumps including one double and one treble. Athletes pick their horses and have 20 minutes and five practice fences for warm-up before entering the arena. Competitors start with 1,200 points and lose points for knockdowns, refusals or disobedience to jump or falls. Time penalties are also awarded at 4 points per second for being over the standard time. **Combined Event:** Pentathletes start on a handicap, based on scores after the previous 3 events. They run a short distance to the firing range, shoot unlimited times within 70 seconds to hit a target five times; run 1,000m, then shoot a further five targets; run another 1,000m and shoot another 5 targets; then run the final 1,000m to the finish line. The winner of the event is the athlete who crosses the finish line first. || include component="backlinks" page="Modern Pentathlon" limit="10"