London 2012 blog

I’ll start with a short History lesson…

The first Pentathlon was introduced at the 18th Olympiad in 708 BC, probably by the Spartans as a method of training soldiers. It consisted of running the length of the stadium, jumping, throwing a spear, throwing the discus and wrestling. This multi-disciplined event held a position of unique importance in the Games and was considered to be the climax, with the winner ranked as ‘Victor Ludorum’.

Admiration for the Pentathlon was shared by the founder of the Modern Olympic Movement, Baron Pierre de Coubertin whose efforts to have the event introduced into the Olympic programme had begun in 1909, and after two failed attempts, were rewarded in 1911 when he announced ‘The Holy Ghost of sport illuminated my colleagues and they accepted a competition to which I attach great importance’.

Read more of “Attending the Modern Pentathlon World Cup”