Ahmed Elgendy, wearing glasses, won the gold medal in the modern pentathlon event at the Palace of Versailles on Saturday, August 10. This victory marked the first Olympic gold for Egypt and Africa in this sport. Elgendy, who had previously won a silver medal in Tokyo 2020, achieved a remarkable world record score of 1,555 points.
Japan also made history by winning its first Olympic medal in modern pentathlon, as Sato Taishu secured the silver medal with 1,542 points. Italy’s Giorgio Malan took home the bronze medal with 1,536 points, marking Italy’s first medal in modern pentathlon since the Seoul 1988 Olympics.
Unfortunately, defending Olympic champion Joe Choong from Great Britain faced challenges in the fencing event, which put him at a disadvantage going into the final laser-run. Choong finished in ninth place with 1,519 points.
Elgendy had vowed to claim the Olympic gold medal after winning silver in Tokyo, and he delivered on his promise with an outstanding performance across all five sports, which were held in a single venue for the first time. Heading into the final laser-run with a 50-second lead, Elgendy was able to afford a few missed shots on the shooting range and still secure a comfortable victory.
Switzerland’s Alexandre Dallenbach and Jun Woongtae of the Republic of Korea were in second place going into the laser run, trailing Elgendy by 17 seconds. However, both athletes faced challenges during the shooting phase, with Dallenbach finishing in 14th place. Jun was overtaken in the final stages by Italian duo Malan and Matteo Cicinelli, who finished fifth, as well as Mexico’s Emiliano Hernandez, who secured the fourth position.
In summary, the Paris 2024 modern pentathlon podium results were as follows:
– Gold: Ahmed Elgendy, Egypt, 1,555 points (world record)
– Silver: Sato Taishu, Japan, 1,542 points
– Bronze: Giorgio Malan, Italy, 1,536 points
Elgendy’s victory not only made history for Egypt and Africa but also showcased his determination and skill in claiming the Olympic gold medal in a memorable fashion. His achievement will be remembered as a significant moment in the world of modern pentathlon.