An Olympic modern pentathlon champion has backed the decision to replace equestrianism with an alternative following the Tokyo 2020 controversy that caused the event to be dropped.
Horse riding was voted out by the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM), the governing body of the modern pentathlon, last November after a horse was punched by a coach at last year's games.
In distressing scenes, German athlete Annika Schleu saw her horse punched by coach Kim Raisner after refusing a jump while performing. Raisner was sent home after the incident and an emotional Schleu broke down in tears after a disappointing showing.
These events caused the discipline to be put under huge scrutiny and officials subsequently axed show jumping from the roster in an attempt to preserve modern pentathlon as an Olympic event.
The modern pentathlon is a staple of the Olympics, comprising of fencing, freestyle swimming, pistol shooting, cross country and show jumping. But the fifth discipline is set to be replaced with obstacle racing in Paris in 2024.
Obstacle racing was chosen out of 60 potential options due to its attraction to global audiences, a decision that received some backlash from competing athletes.
But the new event has been backed by former Polish Olympic champion Janusz Peciak, who believes obstacle racing will remove an element of luck that has often proved decisive.
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"I competed in modern pentathlon for 20 years, and I know that sometimes in our sport, riding was not always fair," said Peciak. "We draw the horses, not like riders in equestrian who know their horses. Many top athletes suffered something that was unfair, and we saw what happened in the Olympic Games in Rio and also in Tokyo.
"I hope we will move on from a situation that leaves a lot of athletes frustrated, because luck is sometimes taking medals away from them. Obstacle discipline will end this type of situation.
"Like many others I suffered, in the World Championships and in my last Olympic Games, and all athletes have suffered at some time. And now, every year horses are becoming more and more expensive, because of insurance and so on, and if we keep going, we will keep reducing the pentathlon.
Modern pentathlon was left out of the initial list of events for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, leaving the long-term future of the event as an Olympic sport in jeopardy.
Five-time world champion Peciak, who won modern pentathlon gold at Montreal 1976, has urged current athletes opposing the new discipline to accept the decision and help preserve the future of the sport.
"I would like to send a message to all athletes who are still competing that they should never close the door for the young athletes who have a dream to compete in the Olympic Games," he added.
"They need to think about young athletes, especially those who want to compete in Los Angeles in 2028, because this is our dream, this is why Pierre de Coubertin invented the sport for the Olympic Games.
"I hope that sooner or later, the older athletes who are against obstacle discipline will finally understand."
