The Modern Pentathlon is unique in the sense that it was invented especially for the Olympic Games. Modern pentathletes, as the name suggest, compete in five disciplines that aim to demonstrate the skills of a 19th century cavalry officer. The event was invented by Baron Pierre de Coubertin as "a test for an ideal, well-rounded soldier... [consisting] of shooting, one-touch épée fencing, a 200-meter swim, show jumping on an unfamiliar horse and a 3-kilometer run."
Katy Livingston is a world-class modern pentathlete. As a youngster, Livingston was involved in a variety of sports, particularly running, swimming and netball. Her exposure to various disciplines made her a perfect fit for the multi-event Olympic contest.
Photos from Life, Olympic.org.uk, Gazettelive.co.uk
Prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the Guisborough native was picked as one of the favorites. That same year, the statuesque English athlete won topped honors at the European Championships in Riga. She also added a bronze in the team event, aside from her individual gold.
No comments:
Post a Comment