modern pentathlon

noun

: a composite contest in which all contestants compete in a 300-meter freestyle swim, a 4000-meter cross-country run, a 5000-meter 30-jump equestrian steeplechase, épée fencing, and target shooting at 25 meters

Examples of modern pentathlon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These were the first Olympic Games to include taekwondo and triathlon events, as well as allowing female athletes to compete in modern pentathlon and weightlifting. —Elizabeth Flores, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2024

This summer, the grounds will be temporarily fitted with an outdoor area to stage equestrian disciplines, plus many modern pentathlon events. —Sally French Of Nerdwallet, Quartz, 7 Feb. 2024

The modern pentathlon will drop its horse event, possibly adding a human obstacle course. —Nick Canepacolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2022

Few except for hardcore fans would care about Greco-Roman wrestling, modern pentathlon or fencing — if that is, nationalism were not the obvious backdrop. —Stephen Wade, ajc, 15 Mar. 2022

Later that month, Keller attended a fundraiser for then-U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) at the Colorado Springs home of Eli Bremer, who competed in the modern pentathlon in the Beijing Olympics. —Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2022

In August, German modern pentathlon coach Kim Raisner was disqualified from the Tokyo Games after hitting a horse that the animal's assigned rider Annika Schleu had been struggling to control. —PEOPLE.com, 5 Nov. 2021

Boxing, weightlifting and modern pentathlon, each of which has dealt with its own troubles and scandals in recent years, were also excluded from the initial list. —Michelle Bruton, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2021

Equestrian show jumping will be dropped from the modern pentathlon at the Olympics following the 2024 Summer Games in Paris, according to the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM). —PEOPLE.com, 5 Nov. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1912, in the meaning defined above