Victory! Modern Pentathlon Drops Riding After Olympic Horse-Punch Saga
After a horse was punched repeatedly during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the modern pentathlon's governing body has voted to remove horse riding from its program after the Paris 2024 Games.
The world was in uproar earlier this year when a horse was punched during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Video footage showed Germany's modern pentathlon coach Kim Raisner hitting a horse with her fist and urging athlete Annika Schleu to “really hit” the horse when he refused to jump.
Initially, Raisner was disqualified because of her actions. But animal advocacy organizations, including Species Unite, said this was not enough and called for additional action to protect animals during the Olympics.
Now, in a major victory for horses, modern pentathlon's governing body has voted to remove horse riding from its program at the Olympics after the Paris 2024 Games,
“The Olympics should be about celebrating human skill and shouldn’t involve forcing animals to compete against their will - a medal is not worth their life,” said Species Unite executive director, Elizabeth Novogratz. “Species Unite applauds the International Modern Pentathlon Union’s decision to drop horse riding in favor of a new discipline that is free from animal cruelty”.
This year’s equestrian Olympics also saw further tragedy for horses: one animal ruptured a ligament during a cross-country event and was later euthanized due to the extent of his injuries, while another was forced to finish the show jumping course despite blood streaming out of both nostrils.
Meanwhile, Samantha Murray, a three-time world champion and Olympic silver medalist, says horse welfare issues are not uncommon within the sport, according to Insider. The athlete added that the Tokyo incident was just the first to attract major international attention and shared the example of one event in 2014 when athletes were asked to ride "limping" horses with "open wounds."
Modern Pentathlon has been a key part of the Olympics since 1912 when it was introduced by Pierre de Coubertin. The sport has always tested athletes in five disciplines: fencing, swimming, show jumping, pistol shooting, and cross-country running. The latter two have since been combined into a single Laser-Run event, but it is currently not known what will replace horse riding.
"On behalf of the UIPM Executive Board, I ask our global community to embrace change and grasp the momentous opportunity before us," UIPM President Dr. Klaus Schormann said in a statement, adding that all changes resulting from the consultation process will be implemented in time for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
"A new discipline will provide fresh impetus to our sport and strengthen the position of Modern Pentathlon within the Olympic movement.
"The Modern Pentathlon will remain a five-discipline sport and will continue to provide the ultimate moral and physical examination of an athlete."
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