Minus equestrian, pentathlon opens Olympic path for PH athletes

Modern pentathlon, now more accessible to Filipinos has suddenly become a pathway for athletes to make it to the Olympics.

With the discipline discarding equestrian in favor of obstacle course racing, Filipinos can now hope to book tickets to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

The other disciplines in the sport are swimming, running, shooting and fencing.

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Just last week, Melvin Sacay and Juliana Shane Sevilla thrived on the global stage after claiming a gold medal in the UIPM 2024 Laser Run World Championships.

“All our athletes are strong and driven. A different medalist from our team emerges in every competition, that’s how determined they are to qualify for the

Olympics,’’ said Philippine Modern Pentathlon Association president Richard Gomez.

Joseph Godbout led the roster of Filipino athletes, who excelled at the world championships last year after topping the UIPM 2023 Biathle/Triathle World Championships in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia following a silver finish at the UIPM 2023 Laser Run World Championships in Bath, Great Britain.

READ: Princess Arbilon claim two golds in Biathle/Triathle World Championships

Princess Honey Arbilon was likewise a cut above the rest after bagging two gold medals in the Bali, Indonesia world champs last year.

The shifting landscape in the five-sport discipline provides added motivation for Filipino pentathletes to clearly visualize their Olympic dream starting with the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.