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Anthropometry and Modern Pentathlon

Modern Pentathlon is a complex sport involving several different sporting disciplines. The physical and physiological demands for each sport requires the modern pentathlete to be a great all round sports person.



Suggested Anthropometric tests for Modern Pentathletes

Anthropometry and Olympic Athletes

London 2012 Olympic Games

Here is some information from the analysis of the anthropometric data (height, weight and age) from the modern pentathlon participants at the London 2012 Olympic Games. The modern pentathletes were found to be of similar height to the average Olympian, but with a significantly lower average body weight. The anthropometric measures of athletes from some of the other disciplines at the 2012 Olympics are listed for comparison.

Sport Age Height (cm) Weight (kg) BMI
OVERALL AVERAGE (all sports) 26.1 176.9 72.8 23.3
Modern Pentathlon (all) 25.4 175.4 65.9 21.3
Modern Pentathlon (females) 24.4 169.4 57.5 20.0
Modern Pentathlon (males) 26.5 182.3 75.4 22.7
Fencing (all) 26.3 176.7 69.8 22.2
Fencing (females) 26.1 170.5 61.7 21.2
Fencing (males) 26.5 183.0 78.0 23.2
Equestrian (all) 37.9 174.4 67.2 22.0
Equestrian (females) 36.1 168.8 59.5 20.9
Equestrian (males) 39.0 178.1 72.4 22.8
modern pentathlonthe finish of the Modern Pentathlon at the 1984 Olympic Games

Rio 2016 Olympic Games

Here is average data from the analysis of the anthropometric data of the modern pentathletes at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, plus a couple of related sports for comparison.

  Age (years) height (m) weight (kg) BMI
AVERAGE (all sports) 26.8 1.77 72.0 22.9
modern pentathlon (all) 26.1 1.76 66.0 21.1
modern pentathlon (females) 25.6 1.70 58.0 20.1
modern pentathlon (males) 26.6 1.83 73.9 22.2
Fencing (all) 28.0 1.77 70.7 22.4
Fencing (females) 27.4 1.71 62.7 21.3
Fencing (males) 28.6 1.83 78.8 23.4
Equestrian (all) 37.8 1.75 67.5 22.0
Equestrian (females) 36.9 1.68 58.6 20.7
Equestrian (males) 38.3 1.79 73.0 22.8


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