Dream team finish the job as men’s gold medallist emulates French (GBR)
Egypt idol Elgendy becomes first Modern Pentathlon medallist from Africa
Korea join the Olympic medal table as Jun fulfils star potential
Riaumag.com , Tokyo –August 7, 2021 – It takes a team to win an Olympic gold medal. It takes a dream team – with a supercharged commitment to excellence – to win two in one Games.
Joseph Choong of Great Britain became the first men’s Olympic medallist in Modern Pentathlon with a superb performance at the rescheduled Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
BACAJUGA
In the process he enabled his team to become the first to win any medals across the two genders. Choong (GBR) set a new Olympic record of 1,482 points as he held off the chasing pack to complete a double started by Kate French (GBR) 24 hours earlier.
Nothing about the victory of either athlete was easy and a truly captivating race developed during the climax of the Men’s Final with Dr Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, among the audience. Choong (GBR) had a target on his back throughout the day and was briefly overtaken on the final lap of Laser Run by one of the most exciting young talents ever to grace the sport.
Ahmed Elgendy of Egypt wrote his own fairytale in Tokyo (JPN), winning Olympic silver aged 21. Not only is Elgendy (EGY) the first pentathlete from his country to stand on the highest podium – he is the first from Africa.
The bronze award was a landmark moment for the sport, too. Korea have been one of the top-tier pentathlon nations for several years and Woongtae Jun has won numerous titles. Now he has given his country their first Olympic medal – completing a tri-continental podium that speaks to the exciting future of the sport.
MEDALLISTS’ REACTION
Asked about the team’s historic double success, gold medallist Choong (GBR) said: “I think it goes to show that some of the staff we got have been absolutely fantastic. Specifically, the performance team.
“It shows how well the coaches understand the athletes. It’s a two-way relationship that breeds a culture of performance.
“I think anyone who has followed the sport since 2019 knew there was only one person winning that last 100m. I was confident that even if [Elgendy] came hard at that stage I could put more effort in and beat him to the line.
“The German girl Annika [Schleu] was unlucky yesterday, it’s always difficult because you have to rely on the rider before you – if they have a bit of difficulty with the horse it can really upset them for the second ride.
“That’s what happened to her, and I was really upset for Annika. I was hoping I wouldn’t get one of the difficult horses, but I got the same one as Kate and obviously it’s a bit of a lucky charm.”
Silver medallist Elgendy (EGY), who is a two-time UIPM world junior champion and won gold at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, said: “I am very happy and very proud to win this medal – the first for Egypt in Modern Pentathlon. The race with Joe was hard. I was catching up to him in the final lap. I know that Joe has a great finish in all races and competitions.
“I am very happy with the silver medal. I hope this medal can make a difference in the continent, in Africa. In Egypt we have had a great upgrade in Modern Pentathlon. The results in the World Championships and Youth Olympic Games have brought more athletes to Modern Pentathlon. I hope more athletes will come.
“After the Youth Olympic Games I started to dream about Tokyo. My mother was there in Argentina. She told me ‘this will not be the last medal you achieve. You will have a medal in Tokyo’. My mother, father, and all my family supported me. I want to thank them for the motivation they gave me.”
Bronze medallist Jun (KOR) said: “I was 4th before the laser run. I thought I could have a chance for silver but Ahmed Elgendy was too fast. I tried my best but I want to show you a better performance next time around.
“[Jung] and I were talking to each other. We said whoever takes the medal it is good. He is older than me and he finished fourth. He was crying but he was grateful. It is not just a medal for me but our whole team.”
SWIMMING
Four-time Olympian Amro Elgeziry of United States marked his comeback to the Games by setting the first Olympic Modern Pentathlon world record in a 25m pool.
Racing the owner of the 50m record, James Cooke (GBR), the touch went to Elgeziry (USA) in 1min 52.96sec in the short-course pool temporarily constructed inside Tokyo Stadium. Cooke (GBR) timed 1:53.80 and Chong (GBR) made it a three-way thriller as he hit the wall in 1:54.87.
FENCING
There was little to separate the top fencers in the Fencing Ranking Round on August 5 and the Bonus Round was no different. Only Aleix Heredia of Spain and Valentin Belaud of France managed four victories.
The final bout had a special significance because the winner of Choong (GBR) versus Alexander Lifanov (ROC) – who tied on Friday – would be named winner of Fencing. Choong (GBR) had the final say, securing the two points needed to top the standings.
RIDING
After all the drama of the Women’s Final, there was a welcome serenity about the 36 rides that took place in the centre of the repurposed Tokyo Stadium. But the challenge was equally demanding and only three riders – Patrick Dogue of Germany, Martin Vlach of Czech Republic and Gustav Gustenau of Austria – attained a maximum score of 300.
Jan Kuf (CZE), riding fifth from last, rode smoothly and moved into a strong position and then watched as Justinas Kinderis of Lithuania and Ilya Palazkov of Belarus struggled to complete the course.
Medals could have been won and lost in this moment but Jinhwa Jung (KOR) and Choong (GBR) both kept their heads and escaped any damage to remain the top two.
LASER RUN
Starting with a 12sec cushion over Jung (KOR) with Kuf (CZE) and the dangerous Jun (KOR) within half a minute, and other threats such as Adam Marosi of Hungary and Elgendy (EGY) lurking further back, Choong (GBR) shot superbly and paced his four laps carefully.
At times the leader tactically took his foot off the pedal to conserve energy, which gave the others hope – especially Elgendy (EGY) who had galloped through the field in the same way as Laura Asadauskaite (LTU) the day before.
Kuf (CZE) ran an aggressive third lap to move into 2nd and appeared to have put some distance between the Korea duo and the rest, but he froze at the final shoot and lost all momentum.
The last lap was everything that Laser Run should be. A leader defending his position under fire from a fast assailant; two team-mates jostling for a podium place and others frantically sprinting to catch them. Four athletes were in contention for the coveted prizes and finally it was 2017 world champion Jung (KOR) who missed out, watching his younger team-mate cross the line to make history along with the two men who beat him to the tape.
A special mention must go to Vlach (CZE), who set a new Olympic Laser Run record in making his way through the field to finish 5th ahead of the legendary Marosi (HUN), who raised his hands at the finish line.
PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT
UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann, who presented the medals along with IOC Member and Lithuanian Olympic Committee President Daina Gudzineviciute (LTU), said: “All the athletes have performed so well at this Olympic Games and they deserve their success – they also deserve perfect presentation and the Men’s Final couldn’t have been better.
“I would like to congratulate Great Britain, who have produced two worthy Olympic champions. It is unbelievable that our Youth Olympic Games champion from Egypt has shown up with all his energy and his aesthetic running style and been close to even winning the gold medal.
“Egypt have been investing in Modern Pentathlon for many years and they deserve to win a medal, and I must say congratulations to Africa and to Egypt and Sharif Elerian, President of the Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation, and to the athlete and his family.
“This shows to other African countries what is possible and it shows that we are a global level in development, especially with the Korean athlete also winning a medal. They have already had a lot of success in World Cups and World Championships.”
IOC President Dr Thomas Bach was hosted at the Men’s Final by UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann.
About UIPM
UIPM (the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne) has governed the core Olympic sport of Modern Pentathlon since its formation in 1948. Today it oversees a range of multi-discipline sports (Tetrathlon, Laser Run, Biathle/Triathle and World Schools Biathlon) which form a development pyramid with Modern Pentathlon at the top.
About Modern Pentathlon
Created especially for the Modern Olympic Games by its founder, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the sport was introduced in Stockholm in 1912 and has been the climax of the Games ever since. The format has been adapted to suit the 21st century and the Modern Pentathlon now consists of Fencing, Swimming, Horse Riding and Laser Run (shooting/running) [rls]
(riaumag.com)
