Modern Pentathlon is one of the more interesting sports in the Olympics. It combines shooting, fencing, swimming, horseback riding and running. The first time it was contested was 1912 and a women’s event was added in 2000.  The US has never won a gold in the modern pentathlon but has won nine medals. The last medal by the US was a women’s silver in Sydney. Before that you have to go back to 1960 to find the last time the US won a men’s medal.

The Team:

This year’s team is made up of three athletes, only one of whom is returning from Beijing.

Links are to twitter accounts for the athletes.

USA Modern Pentathlon
Men:
Dennis Bowsher

Women:
Margaux Isaksen*
Suzanne Stettinius
** – Was on team in 2004 & 2008

Schedule:

The format has changed slightly for this year which will make the finish a little more confusing. After fencing, swimming and riding (a horse which is not your own) the shooting and running will be combined into one event. There is now no score on the shooting, just a requirement to hit five targets in a 70s period. The start of the running is staggered so that the scores are such that the first runner to finish the race will win the competition.

All Times ET
Saturday August 11th
3:45 AM – Men’s Modern Pentathlon – Fencing
8:20 AM – Men’s Modern Pentathlon – Swimming
10:20 AM – Men’s Modern Pentathlon – Riding
1:45 PM – Men’s Modern Pentathlon – Combined (Run/Shoot)

Sunday August 12th
3 AM – Women’s Modern Pentathlon – Fencing
7:35 AM – Women’s Modern Pentathlon – Swimming
9:35 AM – Women’s Modern Pentathlon – Riding
1 PM – Women’s Modern Pentathlon – Combined (Run/Shoot)

Past Results:

Margaux Isaksen is the only returning competitor for the US from Beijing. In Beijing she started off slowly in the shooting and fencing competitions before improving as the competition went on to finish 21st. Isaksen did improve upon that performance by finishing 11th at the 2011 World Championships. The best finish by any American in Beijing was 18th and the best finish by any American in Athens was 9th.