Olympics 2024: Team GB name modern pentathlon line-up for Paris

Modern pentathlon has been on the Olympic programme since 1912, with the women’s event introduced in 2000.

It currently consists of fencing, horse riding, swimming, running and laser shooting.

In the equestrian element, horses are allocated at random to each athlete, who is then given 20 minutes to bond with the animal before embarking on a showjumping course.

During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, German pentathlete Annika Schleu was given a horse that was not co-operating.

The animal refused to jump around the course and as a result Schleu, who had been a gold medal contender, significantly fell down the rankings.

Schleu and her coach Kim Raisner were accused of animal mistreatment after the event, as accusations arose of the pentathlete whipping the horse and her coach punching the animal.

An investigation was launched into the incident but has since been dropped.

However, the accusations resulted in horse riding being removed by the modern pentathlon board after Paris 2024.

Modern pentathlon has also had a long struggle with viewership, ranking as one of the weakest sports in terms of social media metrics and hours watched according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The introduction of obstacle racing played a big part in keeping modern pentathlon in the Olympic programme, with the sport’s president Klaus Schormann saying the event would be “more dynamic and exciting for spectators and fans” after being confirmed for Los Angeles 2028.

Obstacle racing was selected from 61 suggestions – including climbing, javelin and orienteering – to replace the equestrian element.

But questions have arisen from the pentathletes on whether the replacement event has the same transferable skills.

Choong’s partner Olivia Green, who is also a GB pentathlete, said: “You can’t just get on a horse and go around and start jumping. It’s a technical skill and I just don’t think obstacle course racing is.

“It’s like they’ve just sort of given up, I’m still quite a young athlete and I was looking forward to the years to come of riding, which has been taken away.”