Team Ireland has officially selected Modern Pentathlete Natalya Coyle for her third Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer. Coyle confirmed her spot at the European Championships in Bath in 2019 and has demonstrated top form in recent weeks, finishing 5th in the UIPM Pentathlon World Cup Final in Hungary last month.
The competition in Tokyo is one of the final events on the schedule, and the women’s event runs from 5 – 6 August 2021.
“It is always special going to the Olympics, and with this being my third Games, I am still really excited to compete,” said Coyle.
“Each Games is a unique experience, and Tokyo will be the most different really, for so many reasons. The extra year has worked well for me, it gave me an extra bit of time to work on my running and fencing, so I am really confident heading into the Games, and looking forward to competing.”
Coyle’s teammate from London and Rio, Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe, was also awarded a quota spot in the men’s event, and formally declined the position due to injury, saying,
“Unfortunately, due to injury, I am unable to compete to the standard I hold myself to, and believe this spot would be better suited to another athlete who is fit and ready for the challenge.”
Modern Pentathlon is one of the oldest events on the Olympic programme. As a sport it was invented by the founder of the Modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin. It is based on a variation of the military aspect of the ancient pentathlon and focuses on the skills required by soldiers in the late 19th century. Athletes compete in swimming, showjumping (on an unknown horse), fencing, and Laser Run (combined running and shooting).
In Tokyo, the competition takes place in two different venues, Musashino Forest Sport Plaza for the fencing and Tokyo Stadium for the remainder of the competition.
Team Ireland now consists of 45 officially selected athletes, with 98 athletes spots confirmed SEE HERE. The final team announcement is scheduled for the beginning of July. The Olympic Games in Tokyo will run from 23rd July to 8th August 2021.
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