Modern pentathlon's attempt to keep its Olympic place after the horse-punching scandal has sparked a generational civil war

Once considered the apex of the ancient Olympic Games, the pentathlon — consisting of running, long jump, discus, javelin, and wrestling — was designed to test the warrior skills of soldiers; its winner would be dubbed "Victor Ludo rum," or "the winner of the games."

Marveling at the athleticism of those competitors, Aristotle once declared: "The athletes in the pentathlon are most beautiful."

So when the event was re-introduced into the modern Olympics in 1912 — this time as modern pentathlon and consisting of fencing, swimming, shooting, running, and equestrian show jumping — it held a similar standing.

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Article written by: Barnaby Lane