Performance in modern pentathlon: analyzing the interdependence of events in men and women

Introduction: Modern Pentathlon is an Olympic discipline involving fencing, swimming, riding, laser-run, where performance in one discipline can significantly impact performance in others. Objective: This study investigated the interdependence of Modern Pentathlon disciplines and how these disciplines mutually influence each other. Methodology: This study adopts a cross-sectional, observational-documentary research design, possessing descriptive and correlational characteristics. A sample of 14 athletes, including 5 women (mean age 21 ± 5.22 years, body mass 56.30 ± 1.90 kg, and mean training time 6.20 ± 4.09 years) and 9 men (mean age 22.11 ± 6.13 years, body mass 70.0 ± 6.13 kg, and mean training time 6.89 ± 3.48 years). All athletes were members of the Brazilian Modern Pentathlon team, aged between 14 and 33 years. Data collection occurred during the 2021 Rio Modern Pentathlon Cup, which featured swimming, fencing, and laser-run events but excluded equestrian. Results: The results reveal correlations between swimming time and laser-run time (r= 0.730**), swimming time and fencing touch victories (r= -0.681**), laser-run time and fencing touch victories (r= -0.535*), and training time and fencing touch victories (r= 0.549*). Conclusions: The interdependence of disciplines in Modern Pentathlon proves crucial for understanding how these modalities intertwine. Such interaction provides valuable insights, enabling the development of more sophisticated training strategies, ultimately enhancing performance in competitions.