How does a pentathlon relay work?
I · Intermediate · The competition · 2 of 7A team is two athletes: two men, two women or one of each. Each athlete does every event, one after the other. In the mixed relay the woman competes first. The fencing is a team bout to ten hits and the swim is 2 x 50 m. In the laser run each senior athlete shoots three times and runs three laps.
How it works
- Two athletes: "A Relay team consists of 2 athletes."
- Mixed: one man and one woman from the same nation, and "Women compete first, then Men".
- The order within the team: declared in writing before the technical meeting and then fixed.
- Fencing, ranking round: each athlete fences the athlete with the same number in the other team.
- Fencing, direct elimination: the first pair fence to five hits and the second pair take the score on to ten, each within one minute.
- Mixed fencing: athletes fence an opponent of the same gender.
- Obstacle: each athlete completes the whole course, and the second may start when the first presses the finish buzzer.
- Swimming: 2 x 50 m for seniors.
- Laser run: for seniors, three series and three runs of 600 m for each athlete, 3,600 m in all.
- The handover: in a 20 m exchange zone beside the start and finish line.
- A wrong changeover: elimination from that event.
The glossary has the relay, the fencing relay, the direct elimination, the laser run, the obstacle entry and the shooting series.
Tricky cases
In the mixed relay, can a team choose to send the man out first?
No. In the mixed relay the women compete first, then the men.
The first pair's fencing bout ends 3-2 when the minute runs out. What does the second pair fence to?
Ten. They continue from the current score within their own minute.
A team's score is level when the second minute ends. Who wins the fencing match?
The team with the higher ranking from the seeding round.
Can a team change its order after the technical meeting?
No, and registered athletes cannot be substituted after it, except in a case of force majeure decided by the Technical Delegate.
Why the rule exists
A team of two keeps the relay close to the individual sport: nobody can hide, since each athlete does all the events. Putting the woman first in the mixed relay gives every team the same order, so the race on the track is always like against like.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | 100 m swim; five series and 3,000 m in the laser run | UIPM 4.1.1; 5.1.1 |
| Relay, seniors | 2 x 50 m swim; three series each and 3,600 m in all | UIPM 4.1.1; 5.1.1 |
| Mixed relay | Women first in every event | UIPM 1.17.1 ii |
| Top-category events | Men's and women's relays on one day, mixed on another | UIPM 1.5.2 |
From the rule book
UIPM, 2026 Modern Pentathlon Competition Rules and Equipment Regulations (as of 1 February 2026), Articles 1.5.2, 1.11.3, 1.17.1, 2.3.2.2, 3.1, 3.3.2, 4.1.1, 5.1.1 and 5.9. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: UIPM Competition Rules and Equipment Regulations, 1 February 2026 (PDF).