Olympic sport since 1912
A young French cavalry officer of the 19th century was sent on horseback to
deliver a message. He rode across the uneven terrain, through enemy lines, and
was confronted by a soldier with his sword drawn. Challenged to a duel, the
officer won, only to have his horse shot out from under him by another enemy
soldier.
After felling that soldier with a single shot, the officer ran on. He swam
across a raging river, and then finally he delivered the message. So, legend has
it, was born the modern pentathlon.
The brainchild of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic
Games, the event was based upon the unlucky officer and introduced into the
Stockholm Games of 1912. Only remotely resembling the ancient pentathlon
inspired by the warmongering Spartans, modern pentathletes shoot, fence, swim,
compete in show jumping and run - five events testing endurance as well as
athletic versatility.
