All the Track and Field Events

Pentathlon, contest of five exercises-jumping, running, wrestling, throwing the discus, and hurling the spear or javelin-which in the ancient Greek games (see Ancient Games) occurred between the same contestants on the same day. The contestant who won three events was considered the victor. The sport of modern pentathlon became part of the Olympic Games in 1912 at Stockholm, Sweden. The modern contest includes pistol shooting, fencing, swimming, an equestrian event, and cross-country running. Only the equestrian event (see Horse Shows) has changed significantly since the 1912 Olympic Games-from a 5000-m (3.1-mi) cross-country course to a 600-m (656-yd) stadium-jumping event. In the pistol-shooting event, contestants fire shots at rotating targets. The swimming course is 300 m (328 yd) for men and 200 m (219 yd) for women. The cross-country running course is 4000 m (2.5 mi) for men and 2000 m (1.24 mi) for women. Points are awarded for each individual performance, and the contestant with the highest point total after the five events is declared the winner. Modern pentathlon competitions were open exclusively to men until 1977, when the women's modern pentathlon was officially introduced at the World Championships in San Antonio, Texas. Reviewed by: United States Modern Pentathlon Association