Obstacle racing looks to Olympic Games inclusion

May 6, 2022

The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), modern pentathlon's international governing body, is reported to be considering adding obstacle course racing as of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

With obstacle course racing rising in popularity and controversy surrounding equestrian disciplines, UIPM could potentially replace equestrian show jumping in the Games event.

Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO) President, Ian Adamson commented "we are thrilled to be collaborating with UIPM on the new fifth discipline

"Obstacles have a long history in pentathlon, including the modern and ancient Olympic Games, and introducing obstacle disciplines that are watched and practiced by hundreds of millions of people in over 140 countries presents many opportunities for athletes, spectators, and the global sports audience.”

Modern pentathlon, which has been an Olympic sport since 1912, is made up of five disciplines, including fencing, freestyle swimming, pistol shooting, cross country running and equestrian show jumping.

The potential demise of equestrian show jumping follows instances of animal abuse. At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, German coach Kim Raisner was disqualified from the Games after she was caught on video punching a horse.

Commenting on this, Yasser Hefny, Chairman of the UIPM Athletes Committee, has also advised in a statement "we are on the brink of a landmark decision that would change the history of modern pentathlon, the sport we all love, forever.

"While we still have specifics to finalise, we have a new and exceptional opportunity to grow and give visibility to our sport for the benefit of many generations to come, and that’s very exciting."

Joe De Sena, founder of and Chief Executive of Spartan, as been working towards making obstacle course racing (OCR) an Olympic sport since 2007 when the series was first founded.

Seeing obstacle course racing as a natural fit for the Olympics, De Sena wrote in Sports Business Journal "the ancient Spartans used obstacles to train their warriors ... it was all about the athletes and their inherent drive to be better, faster, and stronger.

"OCR is a modern-day expression of Spartan training and the first Olympians’ competitive spirit."

Obstacle course racing has emerged as a truly global sport over the last decade-plus. Spartan holds races in 45 countries, attracting more than seven million racers over the course of the company's history, with 15 national series competitions spanning six continents in addition to regional European, Latin American, Asia-Pacific and North American championship events.

As of December this year, the Spartan World Championship will be held in Abu Dhabi for a second consecutive year.

Chris Heverin, Spartan ANZ Managing Director and Australian Mass Participation Sporting Events Alliance Board Member, added "this is incredible justification for the sport, the athletes and the community who have supported Spartan and OCR over the years."

To confirm obstacle racing as the fifth discipline of modern pentathlon, the competition must first be approved by the UIPM (International Modern Pentathlon Union) Congress and then receive subsequent approval by the International Olympic Committee.

The 2028 Summer Olympics will be held in Los Angeles.

Click here to read Joe De Sena's opinion piece in the Sports Business Journal.

Image credit: Spartan.

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