Editing Modern pentathlon (section)

=== Replacement of riding with obstacle course racing ===
The riding discipline attracted criticism during the [[2020 Summer Olympics]] after multiple athletes in the [[Modern pentathlon at the 2020 Summer Olympics – Women's|women's event]] struggled to control their randomly-assigned horses.<ref name="AP NEWS 2021">{{cite web |date=2021-08-06 |title=Stubborn horse costs Schleu a shot at modern pentathlon gold |url=https://apnews.com/article/2020-tokyo-olympics-sports-great-britain-olympic-team-modern-pentathlon-france-olympic-team-7c946a488296ff1f26b5da8180a5f298 |access-date=2021-08-06 |website=AP NEWS}}</ref><ref name="RTE.ie 2021">{{cite web |date=2021-08-06 |title=Tokyo 2020: Heartbreak for Coyle in modern pentathlon |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/olympics/2021/0806/1239391-natalya-coyle-modern-pentathlon/ |access-date=2021-08-06 |website=RTE.ie}}</ref> This culminated in the German team's coach, [[Kim Raisner]], being removed from the event after striking a horse with her fist.<ref name="bbc-horse-punch">{{cite news |title=Tokyo Olympics: German pentathlon coach thrown out for punching horse |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/58127366 |access-date=7 August 2021}}</ref><ref name="NBC News 2021">{{cite web |date=2021-08-07 |title=German coach kicked out of Olympics for punching a horse |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/olympics/germany-s-modern-pentathlon-coach-kicked-out-olympics-punching-horse-n1276251 |access-date=2021-08-07 |website=NBC News}}</ref> Following the Games, in November 2021 it was reported that the UIPM was opening consultations on the proposed replacement of riding with another discipline.<ref name="UIPM opens consultation on replacement sport">{{cite news |date=4 November 2021 |title=UIPM opens consultation on replacement of Riding discipline in Modern Pentathlon |language=en |work=Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) |url=https://www.uipmworld.org/news/uipm-opens-consultation-replacement-riding-discipline-modern-pentathlon |access-date=7 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-02 |title=Modern pentathlon votes to ditch horse riding after Tokyo Olympic turmoil |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/nov/02/modern-pentathlon-votes-to-ditch-horse-riding-after-tokyo-olympic-turmoil |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> The decision was ratified during the UIPM's Congress on 27 November 2021, with the changes intended to be implemented for the [[2028 Summer Olympics]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date= 27 November 2021|title=Removal of riding from modern pentathlon approved at UIPM Congress |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1116039/uipm-congress-2021 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=insidethegames.biz}}</ref> According to critics of the decision, the UIPM voted for the change without consulting athletes, claiming ''[[force majeure]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Houston |first1=Michael |title=UIPM holds meeting with athletes as modern pentathlon fifth discipline clashes continue |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1124314/uipm-fifth-discipline-athletes-meeting |website=Inside the Games |date=10 June 2022 |access-date=22 December 2023}}</ref>

The decision was met with criticism from various athletes and bodies, who considered riding to be integral to modern pentathlon. Some also accused the UIPM of hindering debate in favor of riding during the congress.<ref name=":1" /> More than 650 modern pentathletes signed a letter calling for the UIPM executive board to resign in November 2021.<ref>{{cite web |date=6 November 2021 |title=UIPM to meet athletes seeking board resignation over horse riding axe |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/pentathletes-ask-board-quit-after-horse-riding-removed-report-2021-11-06/ |access-date=6 January 2022 |publisher=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> A group known as "Pentathlon United" called for the IOC to investigate the UIPM's governance, and proposed a plan to maintain riding with rule changes to bring them in line with those of the [[International Federation for Equestrian Sports]] (FEI), and a focus on [[animal welfare]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date= 26 June 2022|title=UIPM set to hold obstacle test event but campaign to preserve riding continues |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1124950/modern-pentathlon-obstacle-ankara |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=insidethegames.biz}}</ref>

In May 2022, the UIPM announced it would hold an [[Obstacle course racing|obstacle racing]] test event alongside the 2022 Modern Pentathlon World Cup final in [[Ankara]], citing that it had received the most support out of the over 60 disciplines proposed, was more cost-effective, would help make the event more attractive to a younger audience, and was "compatible with the DNA of modern pentathlon". The competition course was developed with input from [[World Obstacle]] and Japanese broadcaster [[TBS Television (Japan)|TBS]] (producer of the sports competition series [[Sasuke (TV series)|''Sasuke'']], whose [[TV format|format]] has been widely exported under the title ''Ninja Warrior''), and the event featured a mix of athletes from both the obstacle racing and modern pentathlon communities.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=Obstacle racing to be tested in modern pentathlon |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/modern-pentathlon/61296363 |access-date=2022-05-05}}</ref> Australian gymnast [[Olivia Vivian]]—a grand finalist of ''[[Australian Ninja Warrior]]''—won the gold in the women's competition.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lloyd |first1=Owen |title='Ninja Warrior' set used in first UIPM obstacle test event as winners crowned in Ankara |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1125029/uipm-obstacle-test-event-ninja-warrior |website=Inside the Games |date=28 June 2022 |access-date=22 December 2023}}</ref>

On 9 July 2022, Pentathlon United shared a survey of 213 responses from 40 countries, claiming that 68.5% of the respondents were current athletes, that indicated more than 92% of current modern pentathlon participants wanted to preserve the equestrian discipline as part of the sport. The group stated, "A total of 74.18% chose the reformed version of equestrian, which puts horse welfare among the central themes, while concern over the cost and accessibility of the equestrian discipline is also acknowledged in the 16-point plan." Of those polled, Pentathlon United claimed that only athletes from the [[United Kingdom]] showed any support for an obstacle race, with athletes from the [[United States]] overwhelmingly voting for a reformed version of [[equestrian sport]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lloyd |first1=Owen |title=Exclusive: More than 92 per cent of modern pentathletes want equestrian discipline preserved, according to survey |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1125457/modern-pentathlon-survey |website=Inside the Games |date=9 July 2022 |access-date=22 December 2023}}</ref>

In October 2022, modern pentathlon's elected Athletes Committee launched a campaign entitled #OurFuture, highlighting the views of pentathletes in favour of the change.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-25 |title=New Pentathlon Discipline: Feedback reveals 88% satisfaction with Test Events {{!}} Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) |url=https://www.uipmworld.org/news/new-pentathlon-discipline-feedback-reveals-88-satisfaction-test-events |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=www.uipmworld.org |language=en}}</ref> Athletes such as Olympic silver medallists Elodie Clouvel (France) and Ahmed Elgendy (Egypt) supported the transition when participating in a media conference at UIPM Headquarters in Monaco. They were joined by Athletes Committee representatives including the group's Chair, Yasser Hefny OLY (Egypt), Jamie Cooke (Great Britain) and Natalya Coyle OLY (Ireland), as well as former Pan American champion Tamara Vega (Mexico).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Por Bradley |date=2022-10-26 |title=UIPM feels confident new obstacle discipline will "transform modern pentathlon" |url=https://www.infobae.com/aroundtherings/articles/2022/10/26/uipm-feels-confident-new-obstacle-discipline-will-transform-modern-pentathlon/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=infobae |language=es-ES}}</ref>

In November 2022, the UIPM Congress voted 69–11 in favor of replacing riding with obstacle course racing; an associated motion established that the changes would take effect for junior competition in 2023.  The 2023 and 2024 junior world championships duly took place with obstacle in place of equestrian.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-12 |title=UIPM 2023 Pentathlon Junior World Championships: All you need to know {{!}} Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) |url=https://www.uipmworld.org/news/uipm-2023-pentathlon-junior-world-championships-all-you-need-know |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=www.uipmworld.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-25 |title=UIPM 2024 Pentathlon Junior World Championships: All you need to know {{!}} Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) |url=https://www.uipmworld.org/news/uipm-2024-pentathlon-junior-world-championships-all-you-need-know |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=www.uipmworld.org |language=en}}</ref> The new format's implementation at the senior level will be formalised after the [[2024 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-12 |title=UIPM Congress votes for obstacle racing to be new modern pentathlon discipline |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1130342/uipm-congress-riding-obstacle-racing |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=www.insidethegames.biz}}</ref>

On 22 June 2023, the UIPM shared a poll of 1,500 Americans by [[YouGov]] that they commissioned in support of their decision to replace riding with obstacle course racing, citing that the survey showed that "45% of Gen Z and 41% of Millennials more likely to watch the Olympics on television if it featured a [[ninja]]-style obstacle race...taken as a percentage of the U.S. population, this would equate to nearly 45 million more people watching the Games".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Survey shows positive reaction to modern pentathlon reform-Xinhua |url=https://english.news.cn/europe/20230622/bd06d79390bd4b1fb2ea8f482ed47a94/c.html |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=english.news.cn}}</ref> The UIPM also stated, "More than two-thirds (37%) of survey respondents said they would be more likely to watch the new-look Modern Pentathlon at the Olympic Games, and 46% of those cited enjoying ninja-style obstacle races as the reason, with 34% describing the reason for their answer: 'I think the Modern Pentathlon needs to embrace change'." The article also indirectly referenced the popular TV show ''[[American Ninja Warrior]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympic pentathlon eyes 'Ninja Warrior' courses for survival |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/olympics/2022/10/05/olympic-pentathlon-eyes-ninja-warrior-courses-for-survival/50803703/ |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-05 |title=Olympic Pentathlon Eyes 'Ninja Warrior' Courses for Survival |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/olympic-pentathlon-eyes-ninja-warrior-courses-for-survival/3089384/ |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller2022-10-05T13:04:00+01:00 |first=Max |title=Modern pentathlon aims for Olympics popularity with Ninja Warrior |url=https://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/broadcasting/modern-pentathlon-aims-for-olympics-popularity-with-ninja-warrior/5175105.article |access-date=2024-08-03 |website=Broadcast |language=en}}</ref>

Іn August 2023 during the 2023 UIPM Pentathlon and Laser Run World Championships, the UIPM signed a [[memorandum of understanding]] with World Obstacle to collaborate on the integration of obstacle racing into the modern pentathlon at the senior level; UIPM president Klaus Schormann stated that the federation was "want[ing] to bring a different challenge to the Olympic Movement, to be more urban and provide something that young generations will love."<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2023-08-27 |title=Exclusive: Pentathlon United claim UIPM Memorandum of Understanding with World Obstacle to oversee discipline "final betrayal" |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1140270/uipm-world-obstacle-mou |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Inside the Games}}</ref> The MoU was criticised by Pentathlon United, who questioned World Obstacle's finances (in particular, being funded solely by one person with no other commercial revenue).<ref name=":6" /> In October 2023, during the [[141st IOC Session]] in Mumbai, the IOC voted to reinstate modern pentathlon with its new format for the [[2028 Summer Olympics]].<ref name=":32">{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Patrick |date=October 14, 2023 |title=IWF credits governance reforms for saving weightlifting's Los Angeles 2028 place |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1141725/iwf-reaction-la-28 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207180428/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1141725/iwf-reaction-la-28 |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |access-date=December 7, 2023 |work=[[Inside the Games]] |publisher=ITG Media DMCC |location=[[Mumbai]]}}</ref><ref name=":52">{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Patrick |date=October 13, 2023 |title=IOC approves five additional sports for Los Angeles 2028 but boxing back on hold |url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1141685/ioc-confirms-los-angeles-2028-sports |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207180654/https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1141685/ioc-confirms-los-angeles-2028-sports |archive-date=December 7, 2023 |access-date=December 7, 2023 |work=[[Inside the Games]] |publisher=ITG Media DMCC |location=[[Mumbai]]}}</ref>