pentathlon

[pen-tath-luhn, -lon]

noun

1. an athletic contest comprising five different track and field events and won by the contestant gaining the highest total score.

2. modern pentathlon.

pentathlon

/ pɛnˈtæθlən /

noun

1. an athletic contest consisting of five different events, based on a competition in the ancient Greek Olympics Compare decathlon

Other Word Forms

• pentathlete noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pentathlon¹

1700–10; < Greek pénthāthlon, equivalent to pent- pent- ( def. ) + âthlon contest

Word History and Origins

Origin of pentathlon¹

C18: from Greek pentathlon, from _penta- + athlon contest

When To Use

What is the pentathlon?

A pentathlon is an athletic competition in which athletes compete in five different events. There are different versions of pentathlons involving different events.The event known as the modern pentathlon (or sometimes the military pentathlon) is a multisport competition that includes épée fencing, a freestyle swim, equestrian jumping, and an event that combines a cross-country run with pistol target-shooting. The modern pentathlon is an event at the Summer Olympic Games.There are also track-and-field competitions known as pentathlons that usually include long jump, high jump, shot put, a sprint with hurdles, and a longer race. (A similar competition with two additional events is called a heptathlon.)The pentathlon dates back to the ancient Greek Olympic Games. The traditional pentathlon events include running, long jump, discus, javelin, and wrestling.Events in pentathlons are usually spread out (unlike endurance competitions such as triathlons, in which the events happen directly after one another). In pentathlons, winning is based on a point system.Athletes who participate in a pentathlon can be called pentathletes.Example: Most athletes are specialists—devoting all of their training to a single sport—but competing in a pentathlon requires mastery of multiple sports.