AUC at the Heart of Action: UIPM Modern Pentathlon World Cup 2025

• Reporter: Fadila Raef
• Edited by: Sara Fahmy
• Photographer: Omar Abozeid

The American University in Cairo (AUC) hosted the annual Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (Modern Pentathlon World Cup) (UIPM) 2025 from February 25 to March 1, welcoming athletes from 35 countries to a one-of-a-kind opportunity to earn ranking points for the upcoming Olympic Games. 

For its fourth time hosting the event, AUC transformed its football field into a professional competition area, catering to a diverse crowd of students, faculty members, sports enthusiasts, and international visitors in an engaging environment to support family and friends.

This year’s participating star athletes included Olympic gold medalist Michelle Gulyás from Hungary and 14-year-old Egyptian rising star Farida Khalil, to name a few, who showcased their skills in fencing, swimming, the obstacle round, and the laser run. 

The 2025 edition of the UIPM was particularly significant because it marked the first implementation of a new format, which replaced the equestrian event with an obstacle round. This change came after an incident in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in which a coach and rider were physically abusing a horse.

“What a great start to the season and the LA28 quad. This was a competition that tested our athletes in so many ways and you could see the progression each day—underlining just how versatile these athletes are. The technical team also did an amazing job overseeing the new format,” said Rob Stull, the UIPM President. 

The final day of the competition, March 1, saw sunny weather and an energetic atmosphere as athletes competed in their respective finals. The day also coincided with the first day of Ramadan, adding another layer of challenge for the athletes who were fasting.

Khalil competed in the women’s final, which took place at 9 a.m., and ended up coming in first place. 

“My dream is bigger than any kind of fasting. I showed that I needed to get this medal, and I got it,” she said. 

Khalil has rapidly become one of Egypt’s most talented young athletes. Her participation and success in the event further solidifies Egypt’s growing status in the pentathlon world. 

“All the hard work I did in the last few years went into getting this medal, and it’s the first step towards getting the Olympic medal.”

Gulyás was another athlete who stood out amongst the participants. According to the Guinness World Record, she won a gold medal in the women’s event at the 2024 Summer Olympics, setting a new world record with 1461 points. She demonstrated remarkable consistency across all events, establishing her reputation as a top contender in the sport.

Later in the day, the men’s final where Cicinelli Matteo from Italy delivered a victory which he described as being “unexpected”, capturing the spirit of perseverance that defined the competition’s closing moments.“It’s my first World Cup podium, and getting a gold medal is unexpected, especially because of the new obstacle discipline. I did amazing today, and that gave me a very good chance to win the gold,” he said.