UIPM 2020 Pentathlon World Cup Cairo:Muir (GBR) wins thrilling Women’s Final

First-time World Cup medallist pips Batashova (RUS) in sprint for line
Bronze for Gubaydullina (RUS) as Sotero (ITA) and Oteiza (FRA) suffer Laser Run freeze
World champion Silkina (BLR) eliminated in Riding after dominating Fencing

CAIRO, EGYPT: February 28, 2020 – A thrilling Women’s Final was settled in the final moments of the Laser Run when Joanna Muir of Great Britain held off a challenge from last year’s winner to take gold at 2020 UIPM Pentathlon World Cup Cairo.

Uliana Batashova of Russia had briefly overtaken her rival on the final lap, aiming to retain the gold medal she won in the Egyptian capital 12 months ago, but Muir (GBR) settled an incredible duel by summoning all her stamina to cross the line first.

It was the 25-year-old’s first individual Pentathlon World Cup medal and her success demonstrated the importance of form: she also won gold at the Budapest Indoor International recently.

Both events count towards qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, so Muir (GBR) is making a strong claim for selection after Kate French (GBR) secured their country’s first of two available quota places in 2019.

Behind the top two, the importance of Olympic qualification ranking points was underlined by the intensity of the battle. Gulnaz Gubaydullina (RUS) came back strongly to claim bronze ahead of Ilke Ozyuksel of Turkey, who finished 4th with a typically strong Laser Run after the initial leaders, Marie Oteiza of France and Alice Sotero of Italy, became stuck on the range at the third and fourth shoots respectively.

Sotero (ITA) finished 5th as Janine Kohlmann of Germany claimed the final place on the podium.

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MEDALLISTS’ REACTION

New champion Muir (GBR) was a picture of elation as she prepared to receive her gold medal. She said: “It hasn't sunk in yet, I can't quite believe it, to be honest.

“I had a good fence and my swim was OK, but in the Riding my stirrup snapped halfway round and I couldn't believe it - I thought 'the one day when I fence well and I am going to come off my horse'. I was so relieved to get round.

“In the Laser Run there were lots of quick runners round about me and I tried to stick with them, and not kill myself too early. It could have been anyone's race.

"I can't believe it. It feels amazing.”

Silver and bronze medallists Batashova and Gubaydullina (RUS) also expressed delight at their performances.

Batashova (RUS) said: “I’m very happy, I feel perfect. It’s good news for my Olympic ranking.”

Gubaydullina (RUS) added: “I’m happy. Today was a hard day but I think it wasn’t bad. I don’t know what my coach will say, but I think it was good!”

SWIMMING

Gubaydullina (RUS) began yet another season by setting the pace in the pool, touching first in 2mins 10.98secs. Sotero (ITA) was next-fastest in 2:12.33, with Rio 2016 Olympic silver medallist Elodie Clouvel (FRA) not much slower in 2:13.92.

FENCING

World champion Volha Silkina of Belarus picked up where she left off in September 2019 in Budapest (HUN), demonstrating superb poise on the piste for a dominant score of 28V/7D.

Kohlmann (GER) also had an excellent day with the epee in hand, scoring 24V/11D, with Oteiza (FRA) and Batashova (RUS) joined by Tamara Alekszejev of Hungary and Natalya Coyle of Ireland on 22V/13D.

Oteiza (FRA) picked up four additional points in the Bonus Round but was denied by Silkina (BLR) in the final bout on the showpiece piste.

RIDING

A dramatic round saw a number of potential medal contenders fall out of contention.

Alekszejev (HUN), Coyle (IRL) and Annika Schleu (GER) each incurred more than 50 penalty points, and it was a disastrous round for Belarus, as overall leader Silkina joined Iryna Prasiantsova (BLR) in suffering elimination while 2018 world champion Anastasiya Prokopenko (BLR) also dropped major points.

At the other end of the spectrum, there were clean rounds and scores of 300 for six athletes including Gubaydullina (RUS), while Sotero (ITA) scored 298 to give herself the honour of starting the Laser Run first.

LASER RUN

For the first two laps, Sotero (ITA) and Oteiza (FRA) kept each other in such close company at the front that it began to feel like a two-horse race, with Batashova (RUS) and Muir (GBR) seeming destined to battle for bronze.

However, Oteiza (FRA) succumbed to the pressure with a 32sec shoot, and then Sotero (ITA) also became stuck on the range ahead of the final lap, knowing that Muir (GBR) and Batashova (RUS) had caught up with her.

A classic duel ensued, and the top two played cat and mouse as they re-entered the stadium, with Batashova (RUS) making the first move on the curved circuit before Muir (GBR) proved ultimately to have the greater stamina, narrowly outpacing her rival in the last 200m.

PRESIDENT'S REACTION

UIPM President Dr Klaus Schormann said: “This first Pentathlon World Cup in Cairo in the Olympic season 2020 has a high importance for all athletes on the way to the Olympic Summer Games Tokyo 2020.

“The Women’s Final today has shown that all athletes are well prepared for the season. We had great performances in all disciplines and a very exciting Laser Run finish.