Modern pentathlon is an exciting diverse sport, steeped in history dating back to the ancient Olympic Games in Greece. The ancient pentathlon consisting of running the length of the stadium, jumping, throwing the spear, throwing the discus and wrestling was introduced for the first time at the 18th Olympiad in 708 BC, probably by the Spartans as a method of training soldiers. The earliest recorded winner of the ancient pentathlon was Lampis of Sparta, 2,707 years ago.

The choice of the five diverse and unrelated sports which make up the modern pentathlon arose out of the romantic adventures of a liaison officer whose horse is brought down in enemy territory. Having defended himself with his pistol and sword, he swims across a raging river and delivers the message on foot. Not surprisingly, it was the military which most enthusiastically adopted this new sport with its inherent demands of courage, coordination, physical fitness, self-discipline and flexibility in ever changing circumstances.