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Writer's pictureKelvin Ooi

The Modernisation of the Age Old Ancient Olympic Sport of Pentathlon : Shermaine Tung

Amidst the vibrant agglomeration of the Olympics, there exists a hidden gem that epitomises versatility and endurance: the modern pentathlon

PHOTO VIA SHERMAINE TUNG

This interdisciplinary event, comprising fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting, and cross-country running, is a true test of an athlete’s diverse skillset and resolve.

 

Training for five distinct sports is no easy feat. Singaporean SEA Games pentathlete Shermaine Tung reflects, “Most of the training load is running, followed by swimming. Typically in a week, there are five running sessions, three swimming sessions, two shooting and fencing sessions each, one horse riding, and two gym sessions.”


“The hardest part is not seeing improvement as fast as I’d like but knowing I can’t increase training load without sacrificing another sport. A good training plan with periodisation and recovery is crucial. Communication with coaches from each sport helps balance the training load.” 


One of the Olympics' Oldest Sports


While modern pentathlon had its first run at the 1912 Summer Olympics, its history actually dates back to 708BC, where the Ancient Olympic pentathlon first took place at only the 18th Ancient Olympiad. Its disciplines were different then, but there lies a similarity with the modern pentathlon we see today — simulating chivalry and the acts of a soldier.

 

As the century turned and despite being one of the longest standing disciplines in the history of the Olympic Games, the sport struggled to keep its place within the Olympics. 


In modern times, the sport has often been criticised for its obscure nature, lack of popularity and its complex scoring system. 

PHOTO: PATRICK O'NEILL REILY, BRITANNICA

Ultimately, this combination of reasons amongst others has forced the sport’s format to undergo numerous changes. 


Event Breakdown for 2024 Paris Olympics 


  • Fencing, ranking round: Each athlete faces every other athlete in one-on-one epee fencing bouts with the target being the whole body, and end after one hit. Although, if neither athlete scores a hit within one minute, the bout ends with both registering a defeat. 250 points are awarded to athletes who win 70 percent of their bouts; each win above is worth 5 more points, each below is 5 points less. 

  • Riding: Athletes must complete a show-jumping course with 12 obstacles. The pentathletes are assigned an unfamiliar horse and have 20 minutes to practice with the animal. Completing the course scores 300 points with points deducted for penalties and for taking longer than a set time limit for the course. 


  • Swimming: This is a single 200-meter freestyle swim. A time of 2 minutes 30 seconds scores 250 points; each second faster than that earns 2 points and each second below loses 2 points. 


  • Fencing, bonus round: In the second round of fencing, athletes are ordered based on the first round's results. The winner receives two bonus points and advance to compete against the next best-ranked athlete while the loser is eliminated from this round of fencing. This continues until all but one athlete is eliminated.   

  • Combined running and shooting: At this final event, athletes' starting times are determined by their total scores from the first three events, with the highest scorer starting first, and each successive athlete then starting with a delay of one second for every point by which they trail the leader. Over a 3km cross-country running distance, pentathletes must stop at four locations to shoot at targets with a laser pistol. The pentathletes receive an unlimited amount of shots each round and must remain at the target until scoring five hits or until 50 seconds have elapsed. Final placement in the overall modern pentathlon is determined by order across the finish line. 

 

An Athlete’s Perspective

PHOTO VIA SHERMAINE TUNG

Though Singapore currently does not have any dedicated Olympic pentathletes selected to represent the nation for the upcoming Paris Summer Olympics, Singaporean pentathletes do exist. 

 

Shermaine Tung, a proud pentathlon bronze medallist at the 2019 SEA Games, is one of the few. Starting off as a shooter at Singapore Sports School, Shermaine eventually picked up pentathlon in 2009 through a pentathlete recruitment drive. 


“My mom would bring my sister and I to the park to run, swim, and basically be active outdoors. As such, that built my aerobic foundation and it was easier for me to pick up modern pentathlon when the opportunity presented itself. My general manager, affectionately known as our "nanny", encouraged me to give it a go,” she shared.


She feels that the sport’s numerous changes are well founded and envisions it evolving further to stay relevant. 


“The word modern in modern pentathlon suggests that the sport should stay relevant to current times. Changes might be uncomfortable, but sports like pentathlon needs awareness, spectatorship, sponsorship and good governance” she shared. 

PHOTO VIA SHERMAINE TUNG

Shermaine further added, “The proposed shift from equestrian to obstacle course racing might be more inclusive, allowing more countries and athletes to participate. The sport should continue to produce well-rounded athletes while adapting to modern times.” 

 

In March of 2022, Shermaine suffered a ruptured disc and required surgery following a training incident that saw her falling off a horse, the discipline she cites as toughest of the five.


“The first hurdle is the accessibility and affordability of the sport. One training session of 30 minutes ranges from $150-$200, and there are limited stables in Singapore,” she said.

 

Shermaine added that due to the nature of the sport, she would be assigned a different horse every training session, admitting that “the scariest part about getting a horse at random is not knowing their temperament.” 


“Although it’s sad to see equestrian riding into the sunset for modern pentathlon, many countries are having difficulties with accessibility to horses and having obstacle course racing will in fact be more inclusive to countries and athletes. I do hope that the sport will stay true and produce athletes that are all-rounded in different sports.” she added.

 

While Singapore may not have a dedicated Olympic pentathlete for the upcoming Paris Summer Olympics, the spirit and excellence of athletes like Shermaine shine brightly. Her story inspires a new generation to explore potential possibilities in sports, not just the sport of pentathlon, pushing the boundaries of human ability and embracing the challenges that come along with it. 


As the modern pentathlon continues to evolve with the times, athletes like Shermaine Tung exemplify the dedication and adaptability required to excel in this demanding sport. 


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