Modern Pentathlon: Russian wins back-to-back gold

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-22 06:50

Viktor Horvath of Hungary crashes into an obstacle during the men's riding show jumping in the modern pentathlon event yesterday. AFP

Andrey Moiseev of Russia earned back-to-back gold after a victory in the 3,000m run, the final of five events that make up modern pentathlon.

Moiseev outlasted a pair of Lithuanians during the final run.

Moiseev led after the first four events - shooting, fencing, swimming and equestrian. That meant he was allowed to start the 3,000m run 13 seconds ahead of the field yesterday.

Moiseev won by 21 seconds. Edvinas Krungolcas won the silver, and Andrejus Zadneprovskis took the bronze.

Moiseev won the gold medal with a total 5,632 points.

The Russian had a 84-point advantage over second place finishers Krungolcas and another 24 over Zadneprovskis.

The 29-year-old Russian, who is also a three-time world champion, managed only to win the fencing section of the competition, but was strong enough in the other disciplines to deny the two Lithuanians the gold medal.

Krungolcas, who twice won the world championships, but finished just 31st in Athens, needed to make up too much ground in the final 3,000m cross country race to be able to snatch the gold medal away from Moiseev.

Zadneprovskis, who won the silver medal in Athens four years ago, managed to edge his way onto the podium in the swimming and riding component, where he finished fifth and second respectively.

David Svoboda of the Czech Republic and Amro El Geziry of Egypt set Olympic modern pentathlon records in shooting and swimming. Svoboda earned 191 of a possible 200 points in the 10m air pistol, and El Geziry completed the 200m freestyle in 1 min, 55.86 sec.

They both dropped out of contention because of poor horse rides.

Agencies

(China Daily 08/22/2008 page7)