Individual, Men

The 1991 World Champion was Poland’s Arkadiusz Skrzypaszek. He started strongly with a second place in the fencing. He moved into the lead after three phases, leading Russian Eduard Zenovka. The course for the cross-country run was very hilly, and high heat (35° C. [95 F°]), made the event very difficult for the pentathletes. In the run, Skrzypaszek placed only 23rd, and Zenkova’s third-place moved him into the lead after four phases – 4,625-4,519. The 106 point lead was huge for the modern pentathlon, but Zenovka was not known to be a strong rider. In the final phase, he fell off his horse twice, and placed only 56th of 66 riders. His score of only 736 points dropped him to third place and a bronze medal. Skrzypaszek was steady, finishing 13th on the horse to win the gold medal. It was the first time since 1951 that the reigning World Champion won the Olympic gold medal.