Jen to tackle modern pentathlon challenge
12th August 2013
A woman who has taken the maxim of inspiring a generation very much to heart will be tackling a modern pentathlon challenge at Pentathlon GB’s high performance centre at the University of Bath tomorrow (Wednesday).
Inspired by London 2012, Jen Offord decided to have a go at at least one event from each Olympic sport – adopting the tagline Inspire a Jen.
She’s already tried out more than 30 different events, from boxing to synchronised swimming and from dressage to judo.
Tomorrow she’ll tackle a modern pentathlon – one of the most challenge sports on the Olympic programme. And her pentathlon challenge will come just a year and two days after modern pentathlete Samantha Murray won Britain’s final medal of the London 2012 Olympics.
Jen will be in good company when she takes on the pentathlon – it has been organised by double Olympian Kate Allenby, who won bronze at the Sydney 2000 Olympics. She’ll also be joined on the day by Olympic silver medallist Heather Fell, Beijing 2008 Olympian Katy Livingston and former World Championships competitor Sarah Langridge, as well as two youth C athletes.
Allenby said she hopes Jen enjoys the Olympic sport of modern pentathlon, which sees athletes tackle fencing, swimming, show jumping and a run/shoot all in the space of a day.
“I hope Jen discovers that modern pentathlon is really fun, that there’s plenty to think about throughout the day, and maybe at the end of the day she’ll feel qualified to apply for the role of James Bond,” she said.
"We’ll be changing some of the rules a bit, but she’ll have the opportunity to try out all five of the disciplines and I hope she'll go away thinking that modern pentathlon is one of the most fun sports she's done in her challenge," she added.
Most of the challenge will take place at the University of Bath Sports Training Village, which hosts Pentathlon GB’s high performance centre.
Schedule for the day:
11.00-12.00: swimming training & competition
12.30: shooting training
14.30: fencing competition
15.30: combined event competition
16.30-17.30: riding at Widbroke riding stables, Bradford on Avon