Modern pentathlon: Michelle Gulyas claims world record gold after Kate French pulls out, Kerenza Bryson finishes ninth
By Ben Southby
Updated 11/08/2024 at 12:31 GMT+1
Michelle Gulyas took gold in the women's modern pentathlon final on Sunday, after Team GB athlete and defending Olympic champion Kate French was forced to withdraw. Kerenza Bryson was the sole British athlete in the final, finishing ninth in the standings in a tightly contested event across the four separate disciplines.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Team GB’s Kerenza Bryson finished ninth in the modern pentathlon in one of the final events of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Sunday.
Hungary’s Michelle Gulyas took gold, setting a world record with a total of 1461 points across the four events.
Bryson was left as the sole Team GB athlete in the event after compatriot Kate French was forced to withdraw from the event.
France’s Elodie Clouvel came in second with 1452 after leading for much of the day until the laser run, in which Gulyas excelled.
South Korea’s Seong Seung-min rounded out the medallists with 1441.
While Guylas set the world record, 14 out of 18 of the scores in Paris’ modern pentathlon would have beaten French’s gold-medal winning score of 1385 at the Tokyo games.
French forced to pull out
Great Britain’s Kate French had to withdraw from the modern pentathlon competition and consequently conceded her Olympic title.
Team GB confirmed the news on Sunday ahead of the final, explaining that the reigning champion would not be able to compete after falling ill.
“We can confirm the withdrawal of Kate French from today’s modern pentathlon final due to illness,” a statement read.
“This has been an extremely difficult decision for Kate as she had hoped to defend her Olympic title and ride in the jumping for a final time in Olympic competition.”
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French, 33, finished fifth in semi-final A on Saturday, which secured her a place in Sunday’s final – the last day of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
The experienced modern pentathlete, a former world and six-time European champion across team and mixed relay disciplines, finally ended her wait for an illustrious Olympic title at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games.
She broke the individual Olympic record in the Japanese capital, scoring 1385 points to edge London 2012 champion Laura Asadauskaite.
French’s compatriot Bryson continued to fly the flag for Great Britain at the Paris Games in her absence, taking a top 10 finish in the total scoring.
The 25-year-old racked up 1404 points to finish ninth in the final standings.
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