The modern pentathlon is a sports contest consisting of 5 events, hence the name pentathlon. The events are épée fencing, pistol shooting, 200 m freestyle swimming, a show jumping course on horseback, and a cross-country run. The epithet modern is important to discern it from the ancient athletics pentathlon – none of the events of modern penthatlon were part of the ancient Olympics.
The modern pentathlon was invented by the Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games. As the events of the ancient pentathlon were modeled after the skills of the ideal soldier of that time, Coubertin created the contest to simulate the experience of a 19th century cavalry soldier behind enemy lines: he must ride an unfamiliar horse, fight with pistol and sword, swim, and run.
The event was first contested at the 1912 Olympic Games, and was won by a Swede named Gösta Lilliehöök. Future American World War II General George S. Patton finished fifth.
More on [ Modern pentathlon ]

Alberta Modern Pentathlon Association - Provincial governing body promoting the sport in Alberta, Canada. News, rules, forms, links, events calendar and classified ads.
British Columbia Modern Pentathlon Association - Provides news, competitions calendar, spectator guide, along with athlete development, assistance and profiles. Scoring, rules and links are also featured.
Cambridge University Modern Pentathlon Club - Offers details on training, social and competitive events calendar, news, photo gallery and links.
Hellenic Modern Pentathlon Federation - Official site featuring organization information, national and international events, photos, and links.
HickokSports.com: History: Modern Pentathlon - Features a short history of the sport and a list of all Olympic champions.
Meta Description: [ This document is a history of modern pentathlon, with a list of all Olympic champions in the sport. It is a page in the History section of HickokSports.com, the largest collection of sports information on the Internet. ]
Modern Pentathlon - Guide featuring the sport's history, disciplines, competitions, and scoring system.
Meta Description: [ Guide to this Olympic sport features its history, disciplines, competitions, scoring, and calendar of modern pentathlon events. ]
Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain - Covers events in Britain and includes membership information.
Meta Description: [ The offical website of the Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain ]
Modern Pentathlon Australia - Information, history, calendar, results, athletes, forum, and links.
Meta Description: [ The official homepage for Modern Pentathlon Australia - Pistol Shooting, Fencing, Swimming, Showjumping and Running: the 5 sports that consist a Modern Pentathlete. ]
Modern Pentathlon Sweden - The official site with information, results, photographs, and links.
Meta Description: [ The Official Homepage of the Sport Modern Pentathlon in Sweden. Everything you need to know about the sport modern pentathlon! ]
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Modern Pentathlon Victoria - History, organization, athletes, calendar, news.
Meta Description: [ Welcome to the official homepage for Modern Pentathlon Australia - Pistol Shooting, Fencing, Swimming, Showjumping and Running: the 5 sports that consist a Modern Pentathlete. ]
Oxford University Modern Pentathlon Association - Offers information on the sport, and the organization's training and competition schedule, along with a mailing list and code of conduct for membership.
Pentathlon-Scotland - Official web site for the Scottish Modern Pentathlon Association includes information about the organization and description of this event.
Meta Description: [ Official site of Scottish Modern Pentathlon Association. An Olympic sport consisting of five diverse and unrelated sports - fencing - running - swimming - air pistol shooting - riding. ]
TracyMattes.com - Official site, features athletic and journalism biography, gallery and general information on the sport.
Meta Description: [ This is the official website of US Pentathlete and NBC reporter Tracy Mattes ]
Union International de Pentathlon Moderne - Recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for the sport. Includes news, rules, competitions, results, links, and a forum.
United States Modern Pentathlon Association - Includes results, rules, FAQ, calendar, history and related links. Also provides US team profiles and champions from 1991.
Meta Description: [ US Pentathlon Team website containg results and rankings, and contact information. ]
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