"Eliminate the factor of chance": why show jumping can be replaced by cycling in modern pentathlon

Modern pentathlon may change significantly this month.

At a meeting of the executive committee of the international organization (UIPM) in November, it will be decided whether to exclude show jumping from the competition program.  

The reason was the scandal that unfolded at the Tokyo Olympics. German pentathlete Annika Schloy held the lead throughout the day. During the show jumping competition, she got a horse named Saint Boy by lot. After the first four jumps, the horse stopped obeying and refused to overcome obstacles. The video captured the moment as a German woman punishes an animal for disobedience, and her trainer, Kim Reisner, beats the horse with his fist.

The incident sparked a violent reaction in the sports community as well as animal advocates. The coach was removed from the competition, Annika was accused of cruelty to horses. American actress Kaley Cuoco, who has long been involved in equestrian sports, even offered to buy out Saint Boy. Most of all, the star of the series "The Big Bang Theory" was outraged by the light in which her favorite show was presented due to the actions of the German woman.

On the one hand, one can understand the state of Shloy, who was the leader of the competition and at one point lost her chances to fight for medals. On the other hand, Gulnaz Gubaidullina found herself in the same situation with Saint Boy. Due to four refusals (the horse's refusal to overcome the barrier - 

), She was unable to complete the route and did not earn points for this type of program. In addition to the German and the Russian, four more athletes received zeros for this type of program.

It is really very difficult for pentathletes to compete in show jumping because of the specific rules. Athletes get a horse by lot, and riders have very little time to get to know the animal, which is important for interaction during the route. Each horse has its own character and habits. Plus, the horse itself must be ready for such starts. In professional equestrian sports, performances on rented animals are very rare. Usually riders work with the same horse for several years before starting to perform at a high level. The leader of the Russian national dressage team Inessa Merkulova, for example, has been performing with her partner Mister X since 2010. As a pair, they repeatedly participated in the World Cup final and for several years were in the top ten of the world rankings.

According to the head of the Federation of Modern Pentathlon of Russia Vyacheslav Aminov, the horse has always been a burden for athletes precisely because it is chosen by lot.

“Because of this, pentathletes showing excellent results in swimming, fencing, running and shooting, having received a difficult animal, went into negative territory.

If you remember, even Alexander Lesun pulled out a sick horse at the Games in Rio, and if we hadn't replaced him, we wouldn't have had an Olympic champion.

Therefore, I support the exclusion of equestrian sports, I believe that this is the right decision, "RIA Novosti quotes Aminov.

In addition to the problem with the drawing of lots, which is on the surface, officials have other reasons to remove show jumping from the competition program.

It's no secret that equestrian sports are very expensive.

It's not only about the horses themselves, but also about the organization of the competition: you need a special covering for the field, you need a territory and stalls to keep the imported animals, veterinary control is mandatory, the athletes themselves have to buy expensive ammunition.

As noted by Aminov, all this hinders to reduce costs and make the competition more spectacular.

“Show jumping weighed down the budget and prevented us from shortening the pentathlon program in time.

I understand those athletes who are accustomed to the presence of show jumping in pentathlon, but the problem of injury and lack of competition was very serious for us, ”the official said.

Not all athletes support the idea of ​​removing equestrian sport from pentathlon.

Russian woman Adelina Ibatullina admitted that it was because of communication with animals that she chose the pentathlon.

“When I was ten, I left the friendly swimming team because I was promised a horse.

To this day, it is my joy and outlet.

Interacting with an animal is one of the most wonderful sensations I have experienced in my life.

Our sport, albeit non-mass, incomprehensible and unpopular, is history.

Without a horse, she will disappear without a trace and forever, ”Ibatullina wrote on her Instagram page.

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Publication from Gulnaz Gubaydullina (@gulnaz_gubaydullina)

Gulnaz Gubaidullina is also outraged, whose interests are seemingly protected by the federation.

She believes that the problem is not in show jumping, but in the inability of the organizers to provide ready, adequate horses for important starts.

“For years we have been learning to be friends with these beautiful creatures, and they do it like they want to remove the tumor!

Perhaps after such changes, most of the leading athletes will not be able to continue to compete, ”the athlete wrote on her Instagram.

What do they want to replace show jumping with?

The new species, according to Aminov, must meet a number of criteria: it will not be too expensive, eliminate the factor of chance, fit into the pentathlon program and ensure its development in the world.

In addition, it should be different from the other four disciplines and be interesting for fans and TV. 

So far, the most discussed option is cycling.

However, according to the president of the FSPR, it is not ideal either due to the same lack of entertainment.

“We will have competitions for an hour and a half, and we need to change equestrian sport for something interesting, active and honestly sporting.

They will not hide, they also offer rock climbing, other disciplines, we are collecting proposals, and we are working on this now.

Yes, the situation is extraordinary, there is a choice, but I think that the pentathletes will find a solution, ”Aminov emphasized.

Ibatullina, who jokingly noted at the end of her Instagram post: “During the zombie apocalypse, the pentathlete will definitely stay alive.

Today's.

And tomorrow, in an attempt to break away from the pursuit, it will get stuck on a bike in a ditch. "