Olivia Green talks through the changes to modern pentathlon ahead of LA 2028...
Modern pentathlon has a history stretching back more than 100 years and this year has seen our sport undergo one of the most significant changes in that time.
The riding discipline has been replaced with obstacle course racing.
And I’ve got mixed emotions about that.
I'm an athlete in the middle of my career, so the change has been quite hard. I didn't come from a horse-riding background, so I had to work really hard on that element to get it to a level where I could be competitive on the international stage.
I also fell in love with horse-riding too, it was one of my favourite parts of modern pentathlon.
When the change was initially announced, it was a shock for me. I was disappointed and I initially didn't know if there was a way forward for me with pentathlon.
Horse riding was a discipline I was one of the best at, and I could rely on it to boost my points total.
It has been a hard adjustment to go from something I was comfortable with to a brand-new sport, one that I'd never done before.
I’m picking it up at 24, which is not super early in my career, and it has required me to use different muscle groups and rely on different skills. It has been a challenge!
But having been opposed to the change, I’m more accepting of it now. I’ve got to be if I want to enjoy what I do.
I have competed on the international stage this year, at the World Modern Pentathlon Championships back in August, and I'm pleased with how my performance is progressing.
It was amazing to win silver in the team event and come sixth individually in Lithuania.
I won the fencing and although my obstacles definitely didn’t help me, I did the best I could and it’s exciting to know how much I can still improve.
My obstacle racing still has so much room for development, I know that. The younger athletes who have been doing it longer than me are scoring points heavily there, so I need to catch up.
Hopefully I can bridge that gap with the other four sports because I know I’m stronger in those areas.
I love being an athlete, I love going out and competing and having the lifestyle of being an athlete too.
And I’m working hard at my obstacle training too, I’ve actually found it quite enjoyable.
It has shown me how much strength is needed in my upper body and has also required me to overcome some fears when jumping and catching different obstacles!
I’m determined to get my strength and technique where it needs to be, and I feel I’m beginning to find my feet with it now.
The support team around me and the coaches have been really helpful with my transition into this new sport, so I can’t ask for much more than that.
Looking ahead, it’s still my dream to become an Olympian and win a medal. Gold would be lovely but any colour would be an absolute dream! That’s ultimately why I’m here.
Having been through an Olympic cycle, which was a big learning curve for me, it’s taught me that enjoyment is crucial too.
I'm not one to turn down opportunities, so when I eventually do retire, I’ve got a new passion ready and waiting to dive in to.
Something I really enjoyed were the small bits of media work I did during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games last summer.
I spoke to a few local radio stations, including BBC Radio Somerset, and I acted a little bit like a correspondent for them, giving them a 10-15 minute debrief about what was happening.
I also ran a podcast post-Games where I interviewed various athletes that I’d met along the way, which was great to do as well.
I found it all incredibly interesting and though my number one priority remains being an athlete, I am excited by where the media opportunities might lead once I call time on my modern pentathlon career.
Sportsbeat 2025