UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo: All you need to know

• Gulyas (HUN) and Elgendy (EGY) seek to retain titles won in 2023
• Stellar field contains three Olympic champions and three silver medallists
• Six opportunities remain to add points to Olympic World Rankings

Olympic year begins in earnest for a star-studded field of pentathletes from 45 countries at the season-opening UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo.

With 28 of the 72 Modern Pentathlon places at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games remaining unallocated, and many of those who have secured quota places looking to finetune their form, competition will be fierce and the athlete line-up is packed with stardom and podium experience.

All points earned in the six major UIPM competitions this season can potentially count towards the UIPM Olympic Pentathlon World Ranking list.

Those who perform best in the first four competitions will earn a place in the UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Cup Final in Ankara (TUR), which is followed by one last opportunity to win direct qualification quota places for Paris 2024 at the UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Championships in Zhengzhou (CHN).

Ones to watch

Aside from the Olympic Games itself, it is rare to see quite such a stellar gathering of talent at one competition – giving fans in Cairo (EGY) a real treat. So powerful is the allure of Olympic year that there is a 20% increase in athlete numbers compared to the same competition in 2023.

Thanks to the return of Kate French of Great Britain alongside fellow Tokyo 2020 gold medallist Joseph Choong (GBR) and London 2012 champion Laura Asadauskaite of Lithuania, there are three Olympic champions in the field.

Not only that but three Olympic silver medallists in the shape of Elodie Clouvel of France, Pavlo Tymoshchenko of Ukraine and host nation favourite Ahmed Elgendy of Egypt – who won gold in this competition last year for the second time.

Neither of them has an Olympic medal to their name, but two-time world champion Elena Micheli of Italy and the in-form Michelle Gulyas of Hungary are sure to have a say in the women’s competition, along with European champion Alice Sotero (ITA) and Pan American champion Mayan Oliver of Mexico, alongside her team-mate Mariana Arceo (MEX).

As if there needed to be any more intrigue, an extra layer of unpredictability is provided by the presence of former world champions Anastasiya Prokopenko and Volha Silkina, competing for the first time as International Neutral Athletes (AIN).

In fact, the multitude of contenders in the women’s competition is so wide as to make it likely that several athletes considered to be ‘elite’ will not make it to the Final.

On the men’s side, many eyes will be on double world champion Choong (GBR) and the man who beat him to World Cup Final glory last season in dramatic circumstances, Mohanad Shaban (EGY). The pair are tied at the top of the world rankings.

Another thorn in the side of Choong (GBR) last season was Emiliano Hernandez (MEX), who made a series of breakthrough podiums. Hungary can expect to be competitive with a men’s contingent team led by Csaba Bohm and Balazs Szep, while another British athlete, Charles Brown (GBR), has progressed impressively.

With veteran former world champions such as Tymoshchenko (UKR) and Valentin Belaud (FRA) aiming to show the next generation the value of experience, and so much male talent coming through from host nation Egypt, another immense collision awaits.

Visit the UIPM website to see the latest world rankings for women and men.

How it works

The 2024 season will be the last to feature the format introduced in 2022 when the new Modern Pentathlon elimination system – featuring a 90-minute showcase of all five disciplines in the Semi-finals and Finals – was introduced. After Paris 2024, Riding will be replaced by Obstacle at all levels of the sport.

Two days of qualification on March 5/6 will determine the line-up for the Semi-finals (36 male and 36 female athletes) on March 7/8. The Finals will then provide a ‘Super Saturday’ highlight on March 9 followed by the Mixed Relay on March 10.

 

President’s welcome

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “I would like to welcome all athletes, coaches and trainers, guests and officials to the first major UIPM competition of the Olympic year 2024. What a wonderful season awaits us with only five months until the Olympic Games Paris 2024!

“Many athletes are still working hard to qualify for the right to represent their national teams in Paris, while others are searching for the best form to give themselves confidence. With so many superstars taking part, we are guaranteed to see a spectacular competition here in Cairo – the jewel in the crown of Modern Pentathlon in Africa.

“We always know that Egypt is a dependable organiser and also a country that produces athletes who are ready to compete at the very top of the sport from a young age. We are thrilled to see other African athletes coming from Burkina Faso and Uganda as well as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia from Middle East Asia. With 45 nations taking part, all continents will be represented, demonstrating the scale of our of our global sports society.

“I would like to thank the Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation for arranging this important annual season-opener, with vital contributions from the Egyptian Government and National Olympic Committee. I also want to thank all volunteers, sponsors, supporters and media representatives.

“I wish you all another wonderful season of Modern Pentathlon – let us take all opportunities to use our sport to promote the ideals of education, fair play, respect and, most importantly, peace.”

 

 

Watch and follow

Live coverage of UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo is available to subscribers on UIPM.TV where annual packages cost €14.99.

Visit the UIPM website or download UIPM Central from your app store to keep track of live results. Follow World Pentathlon on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or X for additional content.

 

Competition schedule

UIPM 2024 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo

Times denote start of UIPM.TV live coverage (CET)

March 5: Women’s Qualification

March 6: Men’s Qualification | Women’s Fencing Ranking Round

March 7: Women’s Semi-Final A (10.00am) | Women’s Semi-final B (2.30pm) | Men’s Fencing Ranking Round

March 8: Men’s Semi-Final A (10.00am) | Men’s Semi-final B (2.30pm)

March 9: Women’s Final (9.15am) | Men’s Final (1.15pm)

March 10: Mixed Relay (1.30pm)