There’s no doubt about it: obstacle racing is the future of modern pentathlon. Proof of this is the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) and the Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO). The agreement, initialled in Bath, England, host city of the 2023 World Pentathlon and Laser Running Championships, provides for a form of merger between the two bodies. The UIPM will become part of FISO and, as such, will oversee all obstacle sports activities and disciplines. As a reminder, after the Paris 2024 Games, obstacle racing will replace equestrian as the fifth event in the modern pentathlon. The decision was validated at last year’s UIPM congress, by an almost unanimous 83.3%. The new discipline was tested this year at the U17 and U19 world championships.
