Pentathlon

Previously held over four to five days, the modern pentathlon reverted to its true character at the Atlanta Games in 1996 with a one-day event. The pattern continued at Sydney and will be the same during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Shooting comes first. The pentathletes have 40 seconds to fire 20 shots from an air pistol at a 17cm-square target from 10 metres. Fencing follows, with a round-robin competition between each participant. Swimming is third, a freestyle race over 200 metres, with athletes seeded in heats according to their personal best times. Once they have dried off, the pentathletes head to the show jumping ring, where they have 20 minutes to get to know the horse before riding. The final event is the 3000m run, with the pentathletes set off at intervals corresponding to their points so the first person across the line wins the gold medal. Both women and men compete in this sport.