Anna Jurt before her Olympic premiere
Image: Keystone
Together with Alexandre Dällenbach, the Bernese athlete will represent the Swiss colors in the modern pentathlon in Paris
Image: Keystone
Anna Jurt at the shooting range: The decision in the modern pentathlon will be made in the combined "laser run"
Image: Keystone
Fencing is also part of the program
Image: Keystone
An extreme obstacle course awaits Jurt in Paris, replacing show jumping
Image: Keystone
Anna Jurt before her Olympic premiere
Image: Keystone
Together with Alexandre Dällenbach, the Bernese athlete will represent the Swiss colors in the modern pentathlon in Paris
Image: Keystone
Anna Jurt at the shooting range: The decision in the modern pentathlon will be made in the combined "laser run"
Image: Keystone
Fencing is also part of the program
Image: Keystone
An extreme obstacle course awaits Jurt in Paris, replacing show jumping
Image: Keystone
The introduction of an obstacle course instead of riding is intended to secure the future of modern pentathlon in the Olympic program. For Anna Jurt, this is both a blessing and a curse.
08.08.2024, 04:30
08.08.2024, 08:14
SDA
Anna Jurt doesn't like being the center of attention. Or so she says. But the 22-year-old from Obwalden is proving to be an excellent ambassador for her sport, which was once "invented" by Baron Pierre de Coubertin for the Olympic Games. However, the pentathlon has not been "modern" for a long time; most recently, it had to repeatedly defend itself against being thrown out of the Olympic program.
The images three years ago in Tokyo are unforgettable, when the German Annika Schleu desperately hit her horse with the crop because it didn't want to jump the obstacles and was encouraged even further by her trainer. As a result, riding will be removed from the modern pentathlon and replaced by an obstacle course for the athletes after the current games.
Hoping for good genes
Anna Jurt, who is representing Switzerland in Paris alongside Alexandre Dällenbach from Valais, is delighted that riding is still included this time. "I actually come from horse riding," she says. "I think they are super beautiful animals and I will certainly continue to ride in my free time in the future." But she understands the decision. The allocation and quality of the horses have repeatedly led to discussions and criticism from animal rights activists.
Jurt does not see the change as a disadvantage for herself. Her younger twin sisters Katharina and Florina are following in her footsteps and are already training on the new obstacle course. "I used to do artistic gymnastics and apparatus gymnastics," says Anna Jurt. "I hope that helps. And when I watch them, I also hope that I have good genes for it."
The fact that it is an obstacle course that is being added makes perfect sense given the pentathlon's military origins. In ancient Greece, there was a pentathlon to test a warrior's abilities. De Coubertin had the same in mind with the combination of fencing, swimming, riding, running and shooting.
Big stage in Versailles
The pentathletes will have a big stage in Paris. On Friday they will start with fencing in the city, on Saturday (women) and Sunday (men) they will conclude the competition in the palace gardens of Versailles. The swimming pool is located right next to the equestrian stadium and was also prominently featured on TV during Steve Guerdat's silver medal ride. The decision is made in the combined "laser run", which, like the biathlon, involves running and shooting with laser pistols in between.
Anna Jurt is really looking forward to the "laser run" in particular. "It's extremely physically and mentally demanding and requires everything from you. In short: it's a super cool sport." And to promote it, the Obwalden native, who usually trains in Bern, likes to be a little more in the spotlight.
