USA Pentathlon Elite Level Recruitment Program

by SwimSwam 6

February 12th, 2020 Industry, News

USA PENTATHLON ELITE LEVEL RECRUITMENT PROGRAM

Dr. Genadijus Sokolovas

Director of High Performance and Recruitment/ Development, USA Pentathlon

The elite Junior/Senior level athlete recruitment program focuses on athletes who are in high school, college or post-grads and have fast swimming and running times with talent for other Pentathlon events. These athletes are identified thru many initiatives and are channeled to the elite-development level program across the country with the ultimate goal of progressing thru domestic events to competing at the international senior competitions, such as World Cups, World Championships, 2023-2027 Pan American games and 2024-2028 Olympic Games. 

USA Pentathlon is looking for high school and collegiate swimmers with a running background. Benchmarks for elite level recruits are based on their pentathlon points in swimming and running times as well as experience in other sports (see benchmarks below). Our goal is to recruit athletes who have enough swim+run points to qualify for USA Pentathlon training camps at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. 

Having a swimming background is important for elite level recruits. It is hard to improve swimming at age 16+ and reach above mentioned times with little or no swimming background, whereas running can still be developed at later ages.

Benchmarks for Elite Level Recruits

Gender Swim Time 

(200 m)

Run Time

(2 miles)

Pentathlon Score in Swim and Run Experience in Other Sports
Women 2:15 

280 points

+/-1sec=2pts

11:45

595 points

+/-1sec=1pt

875 points or higher Fencing

Equestrian

Shooting

Other sports (combat sports, games, gymnastics, etc)

Men 2:05 

300 points

+/-1sec=2pts

10:30 

670 points

+/-1sec=1pt

970 points or higher Fencing

Equestrian

Shooting

Other sports (combat sports, games, gymnastics, etc)

Training Camp for Elite Level Recruits

USA Pentathlon is hosting a training camp at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs from March 16th to 21st. To qualify for a camp, female swimmers should score 875 points in swimming and running (see the benchmarks above). Examples of score for females:

  • Swimming 200 meters 2:15 (280 pentathlon points) and running 2 miles in 11:45 (595 pentathlon points) 
  • Swimming 200 meters 2:05 (300 pentathlon points) and running 2 miles in 12:05 (575 pentathlon points)

Any combination of swimming and running times (faster swimming and slower running or slower swimming and faster running) that scores 875 qualifies female athletes for a free training camp. 

To qualify for a camp, male swimmers should score 970 points in swimming and running (see the benchmarks above). Examples of score for males:

  • Swimming 200 meters 2:05 (300 pentathlon points) and running 2 miles in 10:30 (670 pentathlon points) 
  • Swimming 200 meters 1:55 (320 pentathlon points) and running 2 miles in 10:50 (650 pentathlon points)

Any combination of swimming and running times (faster swimming and slower running or slower swimming and faster running) that scores 970 qualifies male athletes for a free training camp.

Athletes who have good swimming and running scores are invited to contact Dr. Genadijus Sokolovas at [email protected]. Please, also visit USA Pentathlon website www.usapentathlon.org.

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Sam
4 years ago

too bad the event is struggling to stay on the Olympic calendar. It’s a historic sport, Coubertin’s other legacy!

FSt
Reply to  Sam
4 years ago

It used to be only for military officers… and they should have left it that way. Yes, it’s historic, but it’s also unwatchble. I try every year and I just can’t. It’s awful.

PSR
Reply to  FSt
4 years ago

Chloe Esposito winning GOLD in RIo was actually one of the best moments of the 2016 games

Max C
4 years ago

Too bad I’m a slow runner!

Taa
Reply to  Max C
4 years ago

Said by every swimmer

Sam
Reply to  Taa
4 years ago

except for every swimmer who were slow and left for the Modern Pentathlon.