The best way to learn more about competing in the modern penthathlon is to contact the Modern Pentathlon Association in your country. Children who are interested in the pentathlon may want to attend a Pentathlon Youth Camp, where they can shoot, fence, swim, ride, and run with Olympic coaches and medalists.
GOVERNING BODY FOR THE SPORT
The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), the International Modern Pentathlon Union, is the international federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for the sport of modern pentathlon.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO BE ON THE OLYMPIC TEAM
To be eligible to qualify, athletes must have achieved the minimum standards of 5,100 points (men) and 4,800 points (women) on the UIPM qualification list as of June 1, 2008.
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR THE OLYMPICS
A total of 36 men and 36 women will compete in the modern pentathlon in the 2008 Olympics (up from 32 and 32 in 2004), with no more than two from the same country in each event. If a country qualifies more than two men or two women, the national governing body chooses which athletes they will send to Beijing.
Only the top placed athlete in the World Cup Final qualifies (the top two qualified in 2004). Nineteen places will be attributed at the 2007 Continental Championships, up from nine in 2004. The top three places from the 2007 and 2008 World Championships qualify, down from top nine in 2004. Two Tripartite Commission places are allocated. In addition, the top seven athletes from the World Ranking list who have not already qualified will earn a spot. One place is also guaranteed to the host nation, China, if an athlete from that country does not previously qualify.
