Rules Revolution Shipping Olympic Ambitions

Overtook the schedule

« We did not even dream that when the carousel was turning around, we would achieve this ambitious goal this year.

The news of the winning law to organize the World Adult Contemporary Pentathlon Championship in the summer, Lithuanians fell as a thunderstorm.

It was hoped that our country could only receive such an honor in 2028. However, the International Contemporary Pentathlon Union (UIPM) announced in December last year that it had chosen Lithuania for this year’s priorities. This week it became clear that the prestigious competition will not take place, as planned, in Druskininkai, but in Kaunas. August 26-30 At the Grunwald Arena, the Planetary Championship will become the first competition for such high -level Olympic branches in Lithuania.

More than 40 representatives are expected in Kaunas, among which there will be a number of modern pentathlon world stars. The final list of participants will be revealed about a month before the event. There will be no new innovation in the championship. From now on, the country may not represent four at four, but eight athletes each.

Event: J. Kalininskas and E. Adomaitytė are already inviting sports enthusiasts to the World Cup in Kaunas. / Photo by S. Čirba / Pentathlon.lt

American – impressed

According to the new UIPM President Rob Collan, the Žalgiris Arena is ideal for this scale of competition. It is foreseen that fechtation, OCR obstacle and running -shooting matches will be held in the main arena and swimming in the adjacent pool.

« Modern pentathlon has been a traditional outdoor sport for decades, and now we move inside to maintain a high level of prestige and quality. This is a big and important step forward. Obviously, Lithuania, with many high -level youth championships, has a great tradition of modern pentathlon.

More international contemporary pentathlon competitions will be held in Lithuania this summer. August 21-24 In Druskininkai there will be a priority of the planet youth (under 19), and July 26-31. Kaunas – European juniors (under 15) and youth (under 19) Championships.

Fighting for fans

The modern pentathlon format has changed again this year – the riding match has been officially replaced by an obstacle course and the entire competition has shortened to an hour and a half.

These changes are expected to make the competition more attractive to supporters and television broadcasts for viewers. This in turn would contribute to the possibilities of modern pentathlon to maintain the status of Olympic sports.

« This concept attracts the attention of viewers because they can get more involved and watch the entire championship from start to finish. An important part of the show with the show elements will become an important.

The recently completed 37-year-old reusable world and European Championship winner is now the vice president of the European Contemporary Pentathlon Confederation.

Competition: Obstacle course for older pentathletes is a special challenge, and young people are easier. / Photo by Pentathlon.lt

The elders are replaced by young people

We talked to Mr Kinder about the prospects of our contemporary pentathlon athletes after the reform of the rules. Will the sport that strategically significant to Lithuania preserves its great contribution to our country’s Olympic medal dowry?

– How does the new rules change the hierarchy of the sport and the position of Lithuanians at the top? – we asked Mr Kinder.

– The first season when new rules apply in all age groups. Before that, they were tested in youth tournaments. Only the complexity of obstacles is different, depending on the age group. Following the abolition of the horse competition, the OCR obstacle course becomes a completely different sport. So naturally, new faces and new leaders are emerging. A new generation is entering the horse without sitting at all. Changes became prevalent after the Paris Olympics and became the cornerstone of our leaders. For those who have reached about 30 years, this new competition is a huge challenge. To raise the results there to the elite level, you need to get used to it and workout a lot. Older athletes are limited by both time and body. We see this according to the results in the international scene. Contemporary pentathlon stars, which dictated fashions, no longer have even among the eighteen best – they do not go to the final. Young people who were unable to master the riding event adapt much faster to the challenge of the obstacle course, and their reorientation is much faster.

– Who in the upcoming World Cup in Kaunas should support our victorious traditions in Kaunas?

– The OCR obstacle course is almost the most important. She changes a lot. Those who run fast, firing aptly and quickly overcoming the OCR, become contenders for the highest places. Lithuanian champion Jonas Kalininskas recently ranked tenth in the World Cup in Hungary. For the debutant of such a rank, this is a very good achievement. This 21 -year -old athlete comes from Telšiai and has now moved to Kaunas and works with coach Paulius Aleksandravičius. We see that John progresses not in the years, but just days. Within three years, the remaining to the Los Angeles Olympics, you will not magically raise the results of some physical events, but we are sure to see a great perspective. The new race is doing well in 2023. World Youth Vice -Champion Paul Vagnor. For the latter Kaunas, Liutauras Valeika and Titas Puronas, the winner of the World Junior Championship team record, consist of competition. We also have young girls who show good results in the main matches – swimming and running, such as Martyna Rutkauskaitė, Lithuanian champion Elizabeth Adomaitytė. If you are lucky, we expect from all these athletes in the finals.

Lithuania has great traditions of modern pentathlon.

-Last year, Olympic champion Laura Asadauskaitė-Zadneprovskienė officially ended her career. How do we have other recognized leaders Gintare Venčkauskaitė-Aleksandravičius and Eve Serapinaite?

– Amber is on maternity leave. Eve still has serious challenges with the new obstacle course-at the age of 30, she has difficulty retraining, especially if there is no natural skills for such challenges.

– Is there a changing lineup of countries dictating fashions in the modern pentathlon?

– So far, the leading countries are reorienting very quickly. We ourselves, not wanting to get behind the train, emphasized the need to have the necessary OCR equipment in all our main sports in cities. We want to allow athletes to improve and compete with the best foreigners. So far, we cannot compare with Germany, Hungary or Great Britain, which has been wins both before and after the reform. However, we must seek the highest possible results. This requires appropriate training conditions.

– Is it not easier for Lithuanians to deal with infrastructure now because you no longer need to have horses and other expensive sports attributes?

– So far, it is even more difficult for us, as it is quite difficult to build sections of about 70 m long. The obstacles are non -stationary, you will not leave them installed. They need to be transported continuously and the metal weighs quite a few. In addition, the equipment of the OCR section needs to be renewed. The International Federation responds to the results of the athletes and the obstacle route is more complicated. The equipment also changes accordingly. This year, an innovation has been introduced that only six obstacles are known while traveling to the competition, and the remaining two spells are drawn. All obstacles only become clear on the eve. It gives a lot of intrigue and emotion. At the same time, it is an opportunity for those who used to go to participate in the past, and this year can become prize winners or even champions.