MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Mossel Bay is set to make history this December, hosting the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) 2025 Biathle, Triathle and Laser Run World Championships.
This event will bring together elite athletes from around the globe for action-packed days of competition, from 9 to 14 December.
Spectators can look forward to an inclusive sports festival, taking place on Santos Beach. Age categories will range from U11 to 70 years and older.
The UIPM organises annual world championships, as well as a World Cup series consisting of four events that culminate in a World Cup final.
Every four years, the sport’s ultimate test is the Olympics.
Modern pentathlon is a comprehensive test of athleticism, skill and precision, as it combines five disciplines: swimming, fencing, obstacle course racing and a laser run (shooting and running).
South African athletes showed their skills at the SA Pentathlon Championships this month at Reddam House, Midrand.
This will be followed by the UIPM U17 World Championships set for 17 to 20 July, at the same venue.
“These events are a vital gateway into modern pentathlon,” says Kate Vos, spokesperson for the Eden Modern Pentathlon Association.
“Athletes can earn Protea colours by excelling in a single discipline and for those aspiring to Olympic-level pentathlon, it’s the ideal entry point to eventually master all five.”
The Eden MPA offers opportunities for athletes of all ages and skill levels. The region also hosts regular developmental leagues and interprovincial events for young athletes preparing to transition into the full pentathlon format.
Apart from the Eden District, the sport is also well represented in all other provinces of the country.
Vos, who witnessed the atmosphere of the 2024 Laser Run World Championships in China, expects the Mossel Bay edition to bring similar energy.
For more information, contact Vos (082 932 4492 or eden@sapenthalon.org.za).
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