Dwindling interest and a reputation for being outdated couldn’t change modern pentathlon. A brief video clip of a coach punching a horse at the Tokyo Olympics has altered it forever.
After more than a century of having its participants compete by running, shooting, fencing, swimming and riding, modern pentathlon will drop equestrian jumping from the event, the sport’s federation said Thursday. The decision came after two members of Germany’s Olympic team were accused of mistreating a horse at the Tokyo Games.
A replacement sport for riding will be named later, the federation said. Several news reports said competitors would continue to ride in the event — by trading horses for bicycles — but the organization made a point of disputing that: “It is untrue to say it will be replaced by cycling,” it said.