Sport gets jump start in Beijing

Under Beijing's golden autumn sky, strength, speed and skill took center stage. Athletes from around the world leaped, climbed and sprinted their way through the start of a brand-new chapter in modern pentathlon — the inaugural Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) 2025 Obstacle World Championships.

As the first-ever stand-alone world championships dedicated to the obstacle discipline, the event marked a milestone in the sport's evolution, as obstacle racing is set to fully replace the equestrian element of the modern pentathlon and make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Nearly two decades after the 2008 Olympics, the National Olympic Sports Center welcomed a new generation of athletes and fans.

The World Championships featured seven events: men's and women's 100m, 400m, and 3,000m individual races, as well as a 3,000m mixed team race. The competition attracted hundreds of athletes from 39 countries and regions.

The competition climax on Oct 25 saw the top 16 male and female qualifiers battle through four electrifying rounds on the 100-meter course. Each race unfolded in a blur of motion — an intense duel of speed and strength played out in split seconds.

Poland's Katarzyna Jonaczyk and the United States' Luke Beckstrand confirmed their sprint supremacy by becoming the first UIPM Obstacle 100m world champions.

"Here in Beijing, the Olympic stadium is making many athletes' dreams come true. We are so excited to be here," said Jonaczyk.

"When we were kids, we watched the Olympics on TV, so it's a really special moment," she said. "I'm sure that I will remember this event for a very long time. Thank you so much, and see you next year."

China's Li Yiqi finished fourth in the men's 400m elite final, just one second shy of the podium. He described the championship as "a great learning experience", adding that he hopes to narrow the gap with the world's top competitors.

According to Zhang Bin, president of the Chinese Modern Pentathlon Association, although European and American athletes still hold an advantage in terms of muscular strength and explosive power, Asian athletes' overall coordination and agility align well with the technical demands of obstacle racing.

Currently, most members of China's new modern pentathlon team have been recruited through cross-disciplinary selection, mainly from track and field and swimming. Traditional Chinese disciplines such as acrobatics and martial arts share similar movement techniques with obstacle racing, which may offer a useful foundation in developing athletes.

To further advance the sport, the Chinese Modern Pentathlon Association is already implementing a new development strategy — strengthening cross-sport talent identification, expanding its reserve of young athletes and optimizing the domestic competition structure to accelerate the growth of obstacle racing nationwide.

UIPM President Rob Stull expressed his excitement about the first Obstacle World Championships. "A truly epic effort by everyone involved, from the organizers to the athletes, created a memorable and historic experience in Beijing for our sports community," he said.

"China has set a high bar that will resonate until the Championships return in 2026 for what promises to be an even bigger and grander event on the UIPM calendar," he said.

He explained that the decision to replace equestrian with obstacle racing in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics modern pentathlon was made by an expert panel, which evaluated 62 applications against 14 criteria.

They were looking for a sport that combined accessibility, youth appeal and simplicity, among other factors.

"When you look at obstacle racing and think about the ultimate versatility in terms of speed, agility, balance and focus," he said.

"It's fast and furious. It's very speed-oriented."

The next generation

On the final day of the championships, it was the kids who stole the spotlight. More than 2,000 young warriors gathered in Beijing to compete on an international stage, taking on their very own 3,000-meter obstacle challenge filled with excitement, energy and determination.

In the boys' elite 11-12 age group, Wang Zizheng claimed the championship title. During the medal ceremony, his medal was presented to him by his sister Wang Zijin, who, three years ago, won the girls' 9-11 title at the 2022 Spartan Kids World Championships.

It was Zijin who first introduced her younger brother to obstacle racing, and now, she proudly admits that his speed has already surpassed her own.

Off the main competition, Zizheng also tried the adult obstacle course held on the same venue. It was still a bit challenging for him, but he is excited to take on greater challenges as he grows and gains more experience.

The event not only nurtures the next generation of Chinese athletes in obstacle racing and modern pentathlon, but also reflects the growing enthusiasm among Chinese parents and children for this fast-rising sport.

This year's Children's Obstacle World Championships was co-organized by UIPM and Spartan Race. "Integrating the children's races into the UIPM Obstacle World Championships allows young athletes to witness the world's top competitors up close," said Yu Lei, CEO of sports company SECA, which operates Spartan Race events in China.

"At the same time, it also shows the international obstacle racing community that China already has a strong youth foundation for this sport. I believe obstacle racing will continue to thrive here."

According to Yu, SECA has already held 18 children's races this year, attracting around 150,000 participants aged between four and 14. "As these young athletes progress through their age groups, they can transition to adult obstacle races once they turn 14," she said.

"Obstacle racing has been developing in China for nearly a decade alongside the Spartan Race," Yu added.

"From children's races to adult competitions, we've built a community of nearly one million participants nationwide. In the future, through more targeted training, our athletes will be able to sharpen their performance on short-distance courses and strengthen the talent pool for obstacle racing in China."

As the sport looks ahead to its Olympic debut at LA28, the lessons, experiences and excitement from this world championships are set to inspire a new wave of athletes — and perhaps, the next generation of Olympic champions.