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The military pentathlon is a multi-sport competition involving five components: a shooting phase, obstacle run, obstacle swimming, grenade throwing, and cross-country running.

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1. During the shooting phase, competitors are tested on precision by taking 10 shots in 10 minutes and rapid-fire by taking 10 shots in one-minute.
2. The obstacle run requires competitors to navigate a 500-m course involving 20 obstacles. Some of the obstacles include a rope ladder, tripwire, balance beam, water jumps, crawls under barbed wire and an assault wall. The obstacles are designed to simulate the types of obstacles that soldiers may encounter in combat situations.
3. During the obstacle swimming, competitors must swim a distance of 50-meters while manoeuvring through four different obstacles.
4. Then there is the throwing that involves competitors tested on precision and distance while throwing 16 inactive grenades at targets at varying distances.
5. Finally, there is the cross country run taking competitors on an 8 km cross country run.

The pentathlon is designed to test the ideal skills of a soldier and it has evolved based on the relevant skills required by the soldiers of its time. For example, by the end of world war two, fencing and horse riding became irrelevant skills for the modern soldier. This sport was once aimed at military personnel and since 1950 it has gained popularity alongside the annual world championships.

Interesting Fact: The competition is different for women. Women have fewer obstacles, throw lighter projectiles and the cross-country run is half the distance.

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Similar Sports

• Modern Pentathlon — an Olympic sport that comprises five events: fencing, 200m freestyle swimming, show jumping, and a combined event of pistol shooting and 3200m cross country run.
• Naval Pentathlon — comprises an obstacle race, Life saving swimming race, Utility swimming race, Seamanship race, and an amphibious cross-country race.
• Aeronautical Pentathlon — despite the name, the sport has 6 events: shooting, fencing, orienteering, basketball skills, obstacle course and swimming.
• Obstacle Course Racing — an event requiring an athlete to run through a variety of different obstacles.
• Cross-country Running — distance running races over natural terrain.

Related Pages

• Modern Pentathlon at the Olympics
• Military Patrol was a sport at the Olympic Games
• About the World Military Games
• List of Multi-Sport Sports — sports involving two or more sports
• Complete list of sports
• The Encyclopedia of Sports