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Sport practice requires a lot of effort and dedication. But, can you imaging practicing five sports? That is what the Lima 2019 Modern Pentathlon is about.
Pentathlon includes, Swimming, Fencing, Equitation and a combined event of Laser run (shoot and run).
Jane Collins, Tony Sanchez, Jair Mena and Juan Condori are the team representing us in the Pan American Games, directed by Nello Bernaola.
Jane is from the Peruvian Navy and the rest of the team is from the Army, and they all train 6 hours a day. They were selected by coach Bernaola to be part of the National Team.
“I used to practice Military Pentathlon which is also five very different disciplines. Since I had experience I decided to practice this sport”, says Jane.
The complexity of this sport is that practice takes place in different settings and that is challenging. Jair stresses he trains “from sunrise to sundown. It's a hard and takes willpower”.
“The routine is hard because it doesn’t happen in a single spot. Equitation, for example, is at the Peruvian Riding Club and other sports at the Military School”, highlights Jane.
5 sports in 1
For a few team members, some sports are new and are still working on mastering them, such as Equitation. “Equitation is different from any other sport, because you are not alone, you have to feel the horse’s mood and now its knacks”, says Juan, who also mentioned shooting and running are his forte.
The same happens to Jair, who says “Equitation has been difficult, running suits me best”. On the other hand, Jane says she feels more comfortable with Equitation and “the most difficult for me is running, it’s my weakness”.
Highly Motivated
Pentathlon was the last sport to be confirmed as part of the Pan American Games, that is why this team has been training for only 6 months.
“We are young in this sport and we know very experienced people are coming here, like Mexico and Argentina who even have Olympic Games experience. That is why we've selected those who swim and run the best, because those are the base sports”, shares coach Bernaola.
“We need to be optimistic. I feel well prepared and I know I’ll have a good performance”, says Jane.
For Juan, that the Games are happening in Peru is twice the motivation. “My goal is to be on the American top 15 in group level and pick up a medal for Peru, that is what is expected of us”, commented the athlete.
“I feel very comfortable to put a good show, and represent Peru is a satisfaction only few can achieve”, mentioned Jair.
Qualification for this sport is per event. The strategy is to be best in the combined event. “We need to be good in some and excellent in others”, stated Bernaola.
The Modern Pentathlon events will be held at the Chorrillos Military School from July 27 to 30.
