Modern pentathlon's governing body are set to propose their controversial plan to replace show jumping with obstacle course racing at the 2028 Olympic Games.
The decision to replace show jumping with obstacle course racing was approved by the event's international governing body (UIPM) after backing from national federations. And the obstacle course discipline proposition will now be taken to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as modern pentathlon organisers bid to remain in the Olympic program.
Show jumping was axed by officials following the Tokyo games after a horse was punched by her coach. German athlete Annika Schleu saw her horse struck by coach Kim Raisner after refusing a jump. The discipline was put under huge scrutiny after the scandal and organisers have since been seeking an alternative in an attempt to preserve modern pentathlon as an Olympic event.
Show jumping will remain at Paris 2024, but obstacle course racing was chosen as its replacement for future Olympics and was the only event trialled after 61 suggestions to replace the horse riding discipline.
And the UIPM have stated there was an 83.3% vote in favour of the change to obstacle racing after it initially received an 88% participation rating following testing in four different countries.
The modern pentathlon has been a staple of the Olympics, comprising of show jumping, fencing, freestyle swimming, pistol shooting and cross country since its debut in 1912. But its position in future Olympics is in doubt after its exclusion from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic roster.
Events can be added to the 2028 list next year, however, and modern pentathlon chiefs hopes obstacle course racing can breath new life into the sport. "The vote provides UIPM with a mandate to propose a new-look modern pentathlon including obstacle discipline to the IOC for potential inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games," a UIPM statement said.
Approval over the change to obstacle course racing comes after Team GB's Olympic champion Joe Choong threatened to quit if show jumping was replaced by the controversial discipline.
"If the fifth discipline of obstacles goes through and the leadership stays the same, I will walk away from the sport," Choong told BBC Sport. "I don't believe the leadership is capable and it's not an acceptable way to manage a sport."
