Do you know what is a Pentathlon?
I know decathlon, which is the sports department store we all go to buy affordable sports wear.
No wait, a decathalon is actually a legitimate sport.
A decathlete basically participates in a series of track and field events like long jump, the 100m race, shot put and triple jump .etc
It is a test of multivariate skillsets and not an easy event to compete in on the world stage.
Traditionally, the person who wins the decathlon is called the “World’s Greatest Athlete”.
Bet ya didn’t know that.
Now comes the pentathlon, which is also an olympic sport but it consists of very different events.
There is fencing, freestyle swimming, pistol shooting and 3200m run and lastly, equestrian show jumping!
Honestly, it seems like a mixed bag of completely different sports put together to confuse and confound.
See typically, when it comes to athletes and sports, you specialise.
You have Usain Bolt for running all out a 100m race and he specialises in that one event almost exclusively.
But Bolt is Bolt and he does more than that of course, he also competes very fiercely in the 200m and 400m just because he is the best of the best.
Take another sport like swimming, where you have Phelps, who is one with the water.
Take him out onto land and can he perform the same on the track?
Definitely not.
So for any one athlete to compete and perform well at the world stage in 5 completely different genres of sports, is nothing short of remarkable.
Seriously, try fencing then go for a swim and switch to a run right before you jump on a horse and try to perform a show.
That is what modern pentathlete do!
So why am I talking about pentathletes?
Well I saw the video of German modern pentathlete Annika Schleu’s coach punching the horse Saint Boy, who refused to perform.
It was pretty tragic.
Annika was leading the competition entering the arena.
But as fate would have it, the horse didn’t want to cooperate.
With three relay world titles and two team world titles to her name, she ended up last because Saint Boy refused to budge.
You can’t pick your horses, and they are assigned beforehand.
All the hard work and preparation, only to have your dreams dashed by an animal to which you have no control over.
So let’s face it, luck plays a huge part too.
At least I learnt what is a modern pentathlon.
If you enjoyed this, connect with me.
#startups #business #startupx #pentathlon #success #socialmedia #culture #hardwork #luckmatters #olympics #saintboy #strategy #pentathlete #sports
