Pentathlon Canada, the governing body for modern pentathlon in Canada, and Obstacle Sport Canada, the leading organization for obstacle racing, are excited to announce their partnership. Together, they will work towards promoting pentathlon events involving obstacle racing and fostering the growth of these sports across the country.
Pentathlon Canada will feature Obstacles as one of the five disciplines at this year’s Nationals in Vancouver (BC). Athletes can register for the Obstacle event only and compete against Modern Pentathletes who are preparing for the Pan Am Games in Santiago (2023), which is a qualifier for the Olympic Games in Paris (2024).
Rod Staveley, President of Pentathlon Canada, said, “By combining our knowledge and resources for the next five years, we can elevate the quality of pentathlon events involving obstacle racing and foster the growth of these sports across the country. Together, we aim to provide accessible opportunities for Canadian athletes to shine and inspire our nation.”
The President of Obstacle Sport Canada, Tom Petryshen, stated, “By working alongside Pentathlon Canada, we can merge the unique challenges and thrills of obstacle racing with the rich history and discipline of modern pentathlon. We look forward to designing innovative courses, promoting events, and developing coaching programs that will enhance the quality and popularity of both sports in Canada.”
This partnership between Pentathlon Canada and Obstacle Sport Canada marks a significant milestone in promoting and growing the sports of modern pentathlon and obstacle racing in Canada and creating more opportunities for athletes to excel at every stage of their development.
At the Nationals, look to see Canadian National Team Members who have met National Team standards and are eligible for selection for the Santiago  2023 Pan American Games (to date): Robert Bonomo, Kelly Fitzsimmons, Olivia Li, Christopher Rudolph,  Quinn Schulz, and Vancouver’s Devan Wiebe. Canada has qualified a team of 3 female and 2 male athletes for the Pan American Games. Athlete bios: http://bitly.ws/JSET
At the 2023 Pentathlon Canada Nationals, the Obstacle course will be a head-to-head competition and will be set up based on UIPM guidelines and judged using UIPM Rules. Athletes will be given 20 minutes to walk the course and warm up before getting started.
More information on the 2023 Canadian Modern Pentathlon Nationals http://bitly.ws/FWtu
Pentathlon 101: history https://www.uipmworld.org/history
Rules https://www.uipmworld.org/uipm-rules-and-regulations
Disciplines https://www.pentathloncanada.ca/about/
Want to glimpse what being a modern pentathlon obstacle ninja looks like? See the video of Connor Chow at Canada Cup 3 (Alberta Provincials, June 2023). http://bitly.ws/JSxB
About Pentathlon Canada: Pentathlon Canada is the national governing body for modern pentathlon in Canada. Committed to promoting and developing the sport, Pentathlon Canada organizes competitions, supports athlete development, and represents Canadian athletes at the international level. Pentathlon Canada is funded by the Government of Canada.
About Obstacle Sport Canada: Obstacle Sport Canada is the leading organization for obstacle racing in Canada. Its mission is to promote the sport, organize events, and provide resources and support to athletes, coaches, and enthusiasts nationwide.
Media inquiries, please contact:
Shelley Callaghan, Pentathlon Canada Executive Director, executivedirector@pentathloncanada.ca or media@pentathloncanada.ca
Tom Petryshen, President, Obstacle Sports Canada, tom@obstaclesports.ca