Sunday, August 8th, 2021
Only a small reform in the pentathlon
Riding is “part of the dramatic spectacle”
Annika Schleu’s riding drama in Modern Pentathlon goes around the world. The frightening images between being overwhelmed and panic trigger an important debate. The show jumping sub-discipline is now being put to the test. But it should not be deleted.
Despite the fierce criticism at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the world association in the modern pentathlon wants to keep riding as one of the five disciplines in principle. The association only announced in a message that it would “subject the events of the equestrian drama around Berlin-based Annika Schleu to a” complete review “while also taking into account” the importance of the well-being of horses and the safety of the athletes in the entire global competition structure ” .
The discussion about riding in the modern pentathlon was triggered by the terrifying scenes with the 31-year-old Schleu. On Friday she had not been able to calm down the horse that had been assigned to her before the ride over the jumping course. Schleu used the whip against Saint Boy out of desperation and asked by national coach Kim Raisner. Raisner also slapped the horse with his fist. She was excluded from the games on Saturday by the world association.
On the part of the German Equestrian Association (FN), the German Olympic Sports Confederation and riding stars such as the seven-time Olympic dressage champion Isabell Werth and European eventing champion Ingrid Klimke, rule changes in the modern pentathlon were urgently warned. “Riding is an integral part of the modern pentathlon, as it was planned by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who wanted to create the ultimate test of moral and physical qualities,” the world association justified the adherence to horse riding, referring to the initiator in de Coubertin of the modern Olympics.
The unpredictability for the athletes to ride horses unknown to them and only have 20 minutes to communicate is “part of the dramatic spectacle that makes modern pentathlon so unique and captivating”. The national member federations should take part in the congress in November “in a joint effort to secure the future of riding in the modern pentathlon”, it said in the announcement.
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