Olympics-Obstacle racing the way forward for modern pentathlon, says world champion

FILE PHOTO: Tokyo 2020 Olympics - Modern Pentathlon - Women's Riding - Tokyo Stadium - Tokyo, Japan - August 6, 2021. Elena Micheli of Italy in action REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado/File Photo

BENGALURU (Reuters) - Elena Micheli is "heartbroken" that horse riding will not be part of modern pentathlon beyond next year's Paris Olympics but the world champion told Reuters that obstacle racing was the way forward for the sport.

Modern pentathlon, which traditionally features fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping, pistol shooting and running, was plunged into a scandal at the Tokyo Games in 2021 when a coach struck a horse that refused to jump a fence.