Editing Modern pentathlon (section)

== Format ==
The format of the modern pentathlon has changed frequently through the sport's history. Described below is the format that was used in the [[2024 Summer Olympics]] in Paris:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Modern Pentathlon |url=https://olympics.com/en/sports/modern-pentathlon/ |access-date=10 March 2024 |website=Olympics.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=NBC Olympics |date=5 April 2024 |title=Modern Pentathlon 101: Competition format |url=https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/modern-pentathlon-101-competition-format |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=www.nbcolympics.com |language=en}}</ref>

* '''Fencing, ranking round''': In the first round of the fencing, every athlete faces every other athlete in one-on-one fencing bouts. Bouts use an electric [[épée]] with the target being the whole body, and end after one hit, though if neither athlete scores a hit within one minute the bout ends with both registering a defeat. Athletes that win 70 percent of their bouts score 250 points; each win above is worth 5 more points, each below is 5 points less.
* '''Obstacle:''' Athletes compete head-to-head over a 60–70 meter course featuring eight obstacles. Obstacles include elements such as steps, big wheels, walls, rings, balance beams, and monkey bars. Each athlete must traverse the course in their lane without touching the ground outside designated areas. Falls, failures to complete an obstacle, or stepping outside of lanes result in penalties or disqualification. Athletes’ finishing times are converted into points toward their overall modern pentathlon score, with each second worth three points.<ref>{{cite web |title=UIPM obstacle catalogue |url=https://www.uipmworld.org/sites/default/files/uipm_obstacle_catalogue_2023_0.pdf |website=UIPM World}}</ref>
* '''Swimming:''' This is a single 200 meter [[Freestyle swimming|freestyle]] swim. A time of 2 minutes 30 seconds scores 250 points; each second faster than that earns 2 points and each second slower loses 2 points.
* '''Fencing, bonus round:''' In the second round of fencing, athletes are ordered based on the first round's results. The last-place athlete goes against the next-placed athlete. The winner receives 2 points and advances to compete against the next best-ranked athlete; the loser is eliminated from this round of fencing (for double-defeats, the winner of the bout is the athlete who was higher-ranked going into the round). This continues until all but one athlete is eliminated. (The athlete who enters this round in the top of the fencing order can only have one bout; if they won the fencing ranking round they can earn 4 points if they win that bout.)
* '''[[Laser-run]]:''' At this final event, athletes' starting times are determined by their total scores from the first three events, so that the highest scorer starts first, and each successive athlete then starts with a delay of one second for each point by which they trail the leader. Athletes run 3000 meters, stopping four times to shoot at targets with a [[Laser pistol (sport)|laser pistol]]. In each round, they must remain at the target until they score five hits (with an unlimited number of shots) or until 50 seconds have elapsed. Final placement in the overall modern pentathlon is determined by order across the finish line.
At the 2024 Olympics, the event was run twice for each gender. The first, the semifinals, determined which athletes could participate in the finals. The finals then determines the medallists. However, the fencing ranking round was only run once and its results were used for both the semifinals and finals. 
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File:Fencing modern pentathlon.jpg|Fencing
File:Modern pentathlon competition swimming.jpg|Swimming
File:Horse riding during pentathlon competition.jpg|Riding
File:Shooting during at modern pentathlon competition.jpg|Shooting
File:Running during modern pentathlon competition.jpg|Running
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