Modern pentathlon with horses consigned to history as Michelle Gulyas takes gold

Farewell to modern pentathlon in this form. The final day of the event in Versailles offered a glimpse of the difficulties associated with randomly pairing horses with humans.

Team GB’s Kerenza Bryson was preparing for her showjumping round as France’s Marie Oteiza was thrown from her horse. The animal had appeared restless from the outset. There was no lasting damage – aside to Oteiza’s medal hopes – but Bryson took note.

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“I go to the barrier and like to watch the rider before me go through the whole round,” Bryson said. “I visualise that I am on that horse as a psychology exercise.

“She fell off at the first fence. It could have thrown people but I took a deep breath. I was concerned the horse might have seen it because horses definitely notice things like that, it does affect their confidence. You have never met that horse before, you only have 20 minutes to get to know it. You have to create a partnership and a bond with that horse.”

No longer. Horses will be removed from modern pentathlon entirely by the time the Los Angeles Olympics comes around in 2028. Obstacle course running takes the place of showjumping. “It is a massive shame because riding is normally my strong point,” Bryson said. “I come from a pony club and riding background.”

The switch, accelerated after a German coach struck a horse in the Tokyo Olympics, generally seems to have angered competitors. The concept of a modern modern pentathlon is not to many people’s liking.

Bryson cut a dejected figure after her ninth-placed finish here but can see a bigger picture. She will begin work as a junior doctor in Bath later this year and is also an army reservist.

“I am really disappointed with my performance. I came here to try and win a medal. With pentathlon and pulling five things together in the same day, there is always an element of luck. I am also trying to be really positive and remember I am an Olympian. I have other things going on and sometimes you have to remember there is more to life than sport and medals.

“I am going to have a holiday, decompress, then have a think about the next cycle. Not getting a medal here has made me hungry for another Olympic Games.”

Michelle Gulyas took gold for Hungary with a world record points haul of 1,461. France’s Élodie Clouvel won silver, with bronze going to Seong Seung-min of South Korea.

Team GB’s reigning Olympic champion, Kate French, had withdrawn due to illness before the start of the final. French’s replacement, Annika Zillekens of Germany, took a call from her coach shortly after 9am on Sunday. She had been taking part in an 8km run around the Olympic village before learning she would be handed a late final berth. There was no scope for a warm‑up by the time the reached Versailles. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Zillekens finished 15th.