MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Modern Pentathlon's largest global showcase is heading to Santos Beach, Mossel Bay, where able-bodied athletes and para-athletes will come together for a groundbreaking first.
Santos is set to welcome the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne's (UIPM) first-ever combined biathle, triathle and laser run world championships, from 8 to 13 December, presented by the South African Modern Pentathlon Association (Sampa) and the UIPM.
Entries
A total of 1 800 entries has been confirmed, about 500 of whom hail from South Africa. SA will also field four para-athletes from across the country, adding even more heart to this year's line-up.
On the local front, the Garden Route will be proudly represented by Minke Janse van Rensburg in the biathle discipline.
In the able-bodied category, the Garden Route is strongly backed by athletes from Knysna, Oudtshoorn, Great Brak River, George and Mossel Bay. These athletes will include elites, first-time qualifiers and developing youth competitors.
Some of the laser run athletes. Photo: Drone Fanatics SA
Global benchmark
With unprecedented participation from across the world, the organisers say the 2025 UIPM World Championships will be the most expansive showcase ever presented under the UIPM banner.
"When one of the UIPM's largest events takes place in South Africa, it's a recognition of our growing footprint on the international stage," said Frans van Niekerk, president of Sampa.
"We are showcasing our ability to deliver events of global significance with excellence and vision. To host an event of this magnitude on home soil also sends a message to every young athlete: Your dreams are valid, and your country is ready to back you."
Milestone for inclusivity
One of the defining features of the 2025 championships is its fully integrated competition structure, bringing able-bodied athletes and para-athletes together in all three disciplines. This format reflects a global movement towards equitable sporting opportunities and showcases Sampa and UIPM's shared commitment to athlete representation, accessibility and universal participation.
"Para-athlete participation within our sport is still relatively young, having only been formalised in the past two years, but its future is nothing short of transformational," said Van Niekerk.
"Our long-term vision is clear: We want our para-athletes standing alongside our able-bodied athletes on the world's biggest stage, including the Olympic Games, where they are not yet represented."
For the first time, para-athletes will compete on much of the same field of play as their able-bodied counterparts. While wheelchair racers will have a dedicated course, reimagined from the ground up, built specifically for speed, safety and flow, all non-wheelchair para-athletes will run the same track and race in the same water as the able-bodied athletes.
*Entry is free for members of the public who want to witness the action at Santos. The programme kicks off daily at 07:00.
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