The modern pentathlon event at the European Games witnessed a remarkable performance by Great Britain, as they secured three medals, including a gold, on Saturday.
In the men’s modern pentathlon team event, Team GB, comprising Joe Choong, Myles Pillage, and Charles Brown, claimed the top spot, earning the prestigious gold medal. This victory contributed to Great Britain’s impressive tally of nine medals on the eleventh day of the competition in Poland.
Joe Choong, a 28-year-old athlete, not only contributed to the team’s success but also added an individual silver medal to his collection, which already boasts Olympic and world titles. Additionally, Choong’s outstanding performance secured a quota place for the Paris 2024 Olympics, as did the earlier bronze medal earned by his partner, Olivia Green, in the women’s event.
In the individual event, Choong finished in second place, just 7.7 seconds behind Italian competitor Giorgio Malan, who completed the final laser run in an impressive time of nine minutes and 58 seconds.
Reflecting on his achievement, Choong expressed his satisfaction with securing the qualification spot in advance, stating, “For my last two [Olympic] Games, I managed to get that qualification spot the year before, which means you don’t have to travel the world the year of the Games, doing every competition trying to chase the qualification points. It means you can really focus on which competitions you want and really get in a good block of training without the distraction and pressure of trying to get those points at the last minute.”
In the same event, Myles Pillage and Charles Brown finished fourth and eleventh respectively, further contributing to Great Britain’s success and solidifying their gold medal position. Their combined score of 4,548 surpassed the scores of their French and Italian rivals.
Italy celebrated a double victory in the individual events, with Alice Sotero setting a world record of 1,443 points to claim the women’s gold medal. Laura Heredia from Spain finished 14 points behind, while Olivia Green secured an honorable third place.
Aside from the modern pentathlon, Team GB’s triumph extended to other sports as well. The mixed relay triathlon team, consisting of Barclay Izzard, Connor Bentley, Sophie Alden, and Sian Rainsley, earned a silver medal. Similarly, Lucy Hall and Matthew Coward-Holley achieved silver in the mixed team trap shooting event. Furthermore, Ben Lane and Sean Vendy secured a silver medal in a closely fought badminton men’s doubles final against Danish opponents Kim Astrup and Anders Skaarup Rasmussen, with a final score of 15-21, 21-19, 19-21.
The badminton team also clinched two bronze medals, with Kirsty Gilmour in the women’s singles and Lauren Smith and Marcus Ellis in the mixed doubles events.
Notably, Team GB’s flagbearer, Joe Clarke, added another medal to their tally by winning bronze in the men’s K1 canoe slalom, showcasing the team’s diverse prowess across various sports disciplines.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about European Games modern pentathlon
Q: How many medals did Great Britain win in the modern pentathlon at the European Games?
A: Great Britain won three medals in the modern pentathlon at the European Games, including a gold in the men’s team event, an individual silver, and a bronze in the women’s event.
Q: Who were the members of Team GB in the men’s modern pentathlon team event?
A: The members of Team GB in the men’s modern pentathlon team event were Joe Choong, Myles Pillage, and Charles Brown.
Q: Did Joe Choong win any other medals in the modern pentathlon event?
A: Yes, Joe Choong won an individual silver medal in the modern pentathlon event, adding to his collection of Olympic and world titles.
Q: Did Team GB secure qualification spots for the Paris 2024 Olympics in the modern pentathlon?
A: Yes, Joe Choong’s performance in the individual event, along with Olivia Green’s earlier bronze in the women’s event, secured qualification spots for Team GB in the modern pentathlon for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Q: Which country won the women’s event in the modern pentathlon at the European Games?
A: Italy emerged victorious in the women’s event of the modern pentathlon at the European Games, with Alice Sotero setting a world record and claiming the gold medal.
Q: How many medals did Team GB win in total on day 11 of the European Games?
A: Team GB earned a total of nine medals on day 11 of the European Games, including gold in the men’s modern pentathlon team event.
Q: In which other sports did Team GB win medals at the European Games?
A: Team GB secured medals in various sports, including mixed relay triathlon, mixed team trap shooting, badminton (men’s doubles, women’s singles, and mixed doubles), and men’s K1 canoe slalom.
More about European Games modern pentathlon
- European Games Official Website
- Team GB Official Website
- International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM)
- Paris 2024 Olympics Official Website
- Badminton World Federation (BWF)
- International Triathlon Union (ITU)
- International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF)
- International Canoe Federation (ICF)
