--- title: "This Olympic event is based on soldier skills" description: "How many people can name the events that comprise the modern pentathlon? Here's why service members should." date: "2024-08-05" modified: "2024-08-05" authors: - name: "Miguel Ortiz" job_title: "Senior Contributor, Army Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/miguelortiz/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/entertainment/this-olympic-event-is-based-on-soldier-skills/" categories: - "Entertainment" - "Sports" tags: - "Sports" --- # This Olympic event is based on soldier skills ![2020 Olympic pentathlon]() *Unlike Sgt. Amro Elgeziry, we can't take our eyes off that beautiful horse. (U.S. Army/Brittany Nelson)* When reciting the [U.S. Army Soldier's Creed](), soldiers affirm that they are proficient in their "warrior tasks and drills." This includes the basics of shooting, moving and communicating, among other critical skills that all soldiers must possess. While some soldier skills have evolved throughout military history, others have remained constant. The Ancient Olympic pentathlon and the modern Olympic pentathlon were modeled after these skills. **Related:** [**How a miracle on ice forever changed the USA**]() Pentathlon is Greek for "competition of five \[events\]." The Ancient Olympic pentathlon consisted of the stadion (foot race), javelin throw, discus throw, long jump, and (Ancient Greek) wrestling. Pentathlon training was often part of military service, and all five events took place in one day. The pentathlon was first competed at the 18th Ancient Olympiad around 708 BC. Although its format changed over the years, the event was generally standardized by the 77th Ancient Olympiad. It was the long jump, javelin throw, and discus throw, followed by the stadion and finally wrestling. ### Aristotle Was a Fan of Pentathletes ![Aristotle]() *Aristotle was known to philosophize about pentathletes. Who knew? (Shutterstock)* Scholars [could not determine]() how the winner of the Ancient pentathlon was selected. However, pentathletes were considered inferior to athletes who specialized in individual events. Still, the philosopher Aristotle held pentathletes [in high regard](). "Beauty varies with each age. In a young man, it consists in possessing a body capable of enduring all efforts, either of the racecourse or of bodily strength, while he himself is pleasant to look upon and a sheer delight," Aristotle wrote in his treatise, ["Rhetoric."]() "This is why the athletes in the pentathlon are most beautiful, because they are naturally adapted for bodily exertion and for swiftness of foot." As warfare evolved, so, too, did the pentathlon. In 1912, the modern pentathlon was first held during the [V Olympiad]() in Stockholm. The president of the International Olympic Committee, Pierre de Coubertin, took inspiration from the ancient pentathlon and based the events on the skills that a 19th-century cavalry soldier needed to escape back to friendly lines from behind enemy lines. Those skills included riding an unfamiliar horse, fighting enemies with a pistol and sword, swimming, and running to evade capture. As such, the [modern pentathlon]() consists of riding, pistol shooting, fencing, swimming, and running. ### The Pentathlon, It Was A-Changin’ ![Sgt. Samantha Schultz during the fencing bonus round event of women’s modern pentathlon at the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Aug 6. Schultz, a Soldier-athlete in the Army’s World Class Athlete Program, placed 21st overall.]() *En garde, soldier. (U.S. Army/Brittany Nelson)* The original distance of the swimming event was 300 meters. It was reduced to 200 meters at the [2000 Sydney Olympics](). Fencing was originally competed in a round-robin format. In 2015, an additional bonus round was added to épée fencing in international competitions. This was reflected at the [2016 Rio Olympics](). The riding event was originally cross country with a distance of 5 kilometers. In 1972, the event was reduced to 4 kilometers. At the [1988 Olympics in Seoul](), the riding event was changed to show jumping. Shooting was originally done with regular pistols, but was later switched to sport pistols. After the 1988 Olympics, shooting was changed to .177-caliber air pistol from the standing position at 10 meters with a stationary target. For the 2011 World Cup, the air pistols were equipped with laser transmitters and continue to be used. The running event was 4 kilometers until the 2000 Sydney Olympics; it was shortened to a 3-kilometer cross country run. In 2009, running and shooting were combined. Competitors ran three 1,000-meter laps, each preceded by laser pistol shooting at five targets with a time limit of 70 seconds. Beginning with the 2013 season, the run was changed to four 800-meter laps and the shooting was changed to five targets in 50 seconds. After the [2020 Tokyo Olympics](), the run was further modified to five 600m laps. ### One Action-Packed Day ![Modern pentathlon swimming]() *And they're off in the swimming portion of the modern pentathlon at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto. (U.S. Army/Tim Hipps)* The modern pentathlon originally took place over the course of 4-6 days. Beginning with the [1996 Atlanta Olympics](), all five events took place on the same day. To improve the audience experience, the [2024 Paris Olympics]() further consolidated the modern pentathlon into 90 minutes at the same venue (except for the fencing ranking round). Beginning with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the riding event will be replaced with obstacle course racing. The International Modern Pentathlon Union conducted a study that found that younger viewers are more likely to watch the Olympics on TV if it included an obstacle course race in the style of "American Ninja Warrior." Modern pentathlon has also faced controversy over the riding of unfamiliar horses. Multiple female athletes at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics complained that they couldn't control their horses. Also at the Tokyo Games, German coach Kim Rainer was kicked out of the event for punching a horse in frustration. Overall, an obstacle course race that tests agility and strength better reflects modern soldiering than riding an unfamiliar horse. ### Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty ##### • [This Olympian served under a Medal of Honor recipient during World War II]() ##### • [What it takes to be an Olympic-level athlete and still serve in the Army]() ##### • [Meet the 3 finalists for the NFL Salute to Service Award]() ## Author Miguel Ortiz is a Senior Contributor for We Are The Mighty covering primarily military news and history with an emphasis on weapons technology. He is a former active duty Army officer and remains a member of the Army IRR. After commissioning through San Diego State University Army ROTC, Miguel served with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, NY. He has written for We Are The Mighty since 2020, drawing from his passion for the military community and history. Miguel’s work has also been seen on Business Insider and The Blast. He remains an avid shooter, competing in local USPSA matches. Miguel’s other hobbies are traveling and watch collecting. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]()