The men’s and women’s modern pentathlon events begin on Thursday with the fencing part of the multi-sport Olympic event. Here’s how to watch online.
On Thursday, August 18, an Olympic event like no other begins its three-day run at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. We are referring, of course, to the modern pentathlon.
For those unfamiliar with the five truly diverse events that comprise the modern pentathlon, they are as follows: an epee fencing competition, 200m freestyle in the pool, show jumping on horseback, pistol shooting and a 3.2 kilometer cross country road race to seal the deal.
Spread out over the course of three days, Thursday will be the lone day of Olympic modern pentathlon that won’t feature the award of any medals. Both the men and the women will compete in the fencing part of the competition from Thursday morning to afternoon. The women begin fencing at 10:00 a.m. local time (9:00 a.m. ET), with the men joining in later at 2:30 p.m. local time (1:30 p.m. ET).
On Friday, the women will finish the four other events of the pentathlon (swimming, show jumping, pistol, cross country). The men will complete the final four stages of the modern pentathlon on Saturday.
Three Americans have qualified for the modern pentathlon: Margaux Isaksen and her younger sister, Isabella Isaksen, will compete in the women’s Modern Pentathlon, with Nathan Schrimsher competing for the men.
Though Olympic modern pentathlon will run throughout most of the late morning and early afternoon back home in the United States, it might be in one’s best interest to make use of the NBCOlympics.com live stream to not miss a second of the fencing action in the interesting five-sport Olympic event.
CNBC will briefly air Day 1 of modern pentathlon in conjunction with quarterfinals and semifinals matches in Olympic taekwondo in the women’s 57 kilogram and men’s 68 kilogram weight classes. Television coverage of the fencing part of modern pentathlon will be on for an hour from 5:00 p.m. ET to 6:00 p.m. ET on CNBC.
Date: Thursday, August 18
Time: 9:00 a.m. ET
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Venue: Youth Arena
TV Info: CNBC (5:00 p.m. ET)
Live Stream: NBCOlympics.com
While the United States have traditionally not dominated the modern pentathlon at any Summer Olympiad, the Isaksen Sisters and Schrimsher will hope to give themselves a chance at an Olympic medal with a strong day of fencing on Thursday. Find out how they do and more during the first day of Olympic modern pentathlon at the Rio Games.