From horseback to ninja: How pentathletes are facing the obstacles

Show jumping will make its final appearance in the modern pentathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games before being replaced by an obstacle course event in 2028 and dropping the horses entirely.

Known as 'obstacle', the new discipline is similar to that seen in the popular TV show Ninja Warrior, where competitors race through an obstacle course.

The phase out was decided by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) in November 2022 in an effort to modernise the sport that was invented by father of the modern Olympic Games Pierre de Coubertin in 1912.

The change disappointed some of the Australian modern pentathlon community who are mostly made up of competitors from horse riding backgrounds.

However, some Australian athletes are now embracing the shift and have begun their ninja training, eyeing Los Angeles 2028.

Amos Vagg fell in love with the modern pentathlon through his Pony Club when he was a teenager.

An avid horse rider, the 20-year-old from Geelong, sees both sides of the coin when it comes to the changes.

"On a personal level, it's really disappointing because that's like my favourite part is just gone," he said.

"But from a global sports standpoint, it kind of needed to happen."

"If you look at the amount of people that are into obstacles and the amount of opportunities for it, it's such a growth, exciting sport and it sort of fits in with the vibe of an all around athlete super well."

Although Mr Vagg is committed to horse riding, he says that the shift away from riding has allowed him to encourage other friends to participate.

Entry-level events include laser runs, biathlons, triathlons, and tetrathlons organised by Pony Clubs and the various sporting federations around Australia.

From rider to warrior

Mr Vagg has competed for Australia in pentathlon events and isn't counting out Los Angeles 2028 to make his Olympic debut.

He has been training on the obstacle course for the last six months and is seeing progress.

"I've never really been big on upper body strength .. but even in the first three months I went from not being able to hold my own weight to comfortable being able to do all the basic obstacles," he said.

He will self-fund his competitions across Europe in the next two months including the Queen D Leonor International Cup in Portugal.

Like Mr Vagg, Modern Pentathlon Australia has moved on from its disappointment about the removal of horse riding discipline in the Olympic format.

President of Modern Pentathlon Australia Maki Takken says that the federation will pivot to encourage young obstacle athletes to see an Olympic future.

At the domestic level show jumping events will still be on offer.

"Australia fought pretty hard to try and keep the riding in the sport and there was a deal of disappointment about the result," Ms Takken said.

"But I think we have to face reality, which is that obstacle is now at least at the international level, the future of it."

The federation has begun hiring out obstacle gyms and encouraging athletes to give the new event a try.

"So we've done a number of events that still include the riding, but we've offered them also opportunities to come and try obstacle," she said.

"How do we make sure that it's accessible for them, while also honoring the traditions of the sport."

Backing the right horse

Ms Takken said Modern Pentathlon Australia and Obstacle Australia were in discussions to develop a memorandum of understanding where the two federations would consider merging to pool their resources and competitors.

On the international level, the UIPM is considering a merger with World Obstacle, according to Ms Takken.

The modern pentathlon at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will include the five disciplines: fencing, swimming, show jumping, shooting and running.

Australian Chloe Esposito won the gold medal in the event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The Paris 2024 team is yet to be announced.