61st CISM WMC Aeronautical Pentathlon - Summary News
RIO DE JANEIRO (BRA) - The 61st CISM World Military Aeronautical Pentathlon Championship in Rio de Janeiro brought together military athletes from nine nations for an intense and inspiring test of skill, endurance and teamwork. Hosted by the Brazilian Armed Forces at the Air Force University UNIFA, the event embodied the CISM motto Friendship Through Sport from the opening ceremony on 7 November to the closing celebrations on 11 November.
The championship began in an atmosphere of solemn pride and military precision. Under the Brazilian sun, delegations from Brazil, China, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, Denmark, Spain and Finland marched in formation, flags raised high and bands playing. CISM President Colonel Nilton Gomes Rolim Filho praised Brazil for its organisation and hospitality and reminded athletes that they were not only representing their nations but also shared values of respect, integrity, perseverance and friendship. During the ceremony, CISM Medals of Merit were awarded to distinguished contributors, underlining the link between sporting excellence and service to peace.
Competition opened with two technically demanding disciplines, Shooting and Swimming, which immediately set a very high standard. At the CMTE range, Finland’s Staff Sergeant Heini Pelto made history by setting a new CISM record in the women’s Shooting event with 179 points, surpassing the previous mark of 177. China’s Pilot Officer Jia Wang and Sweden’s Second Lieutenant Linnea Tang completed the top three. In the men’s event, Ukraine’s Major Dmytro Kmetiuk proved his calm and control with a winning score of 183 points, ahead of Spain’s Brigadier David Revuelto and a shared third place between Lithuania’s Second Lieutenant Justinas Kontautas and Spain’s Captain Eduardo Martínez Osorio.
Later the same day, the championship moved to the CDA pool for Swimming, replacing stillness and concentration with speed and endurance. Denmark’s Sergeant Adriana Bankowska produced another historic performance by setting a new CISM record in the women’s event with a time of one minute eleven point eight seconds, well inside the previous record. Her compatriot Sergeant Sofie Bunten finished second and Brazil’s Sergeant Ellen Souza delighted the home crowd with third place. In the men’s race, Ukraine’s Major Kmetiuk confirmed his status as one of the most complete athletes in the field by winning again with a time of fifty eight point nine seconds. China’s Flying Officer Wenfa Xu and Sergeant Yixing Zhu followed in second and third. These results placed Kmetiuk at the top of the individual standings and gave Ukraine an early lead in the men’s team classification, with China in close pursuit.
The following day was dedicated to Fencing at CDA and showed another face of the aeronautical pentathlon, where tactical intuition and reaction speed are decisive. China dominated this discipline in remarkable fashion. In the men’s competition, Flying Officer Wenfa Xu topped the ranking with twenty nine victories and ninety five hits, followed closely by his teammates Flight Sergeant Yahao Li and Sergeant Yixing Zhu. Spain’s Sergeant Jorge Laguna took fourth place and China’s Pilot Officer Minghao Li completed the top five. The women’s event also showcased Chinese mastery. Sergeant Kaili Zhang and Flying Officer Haoqin He shared first place with twenty one victories each, with Pilot Officer Jia Wang third. Spain’s Major Ana Lopes and Lithuania’s Sergeant Vaiva Pestinké added valuable points for their nations.
After Shooting, Swimming and Fencing, the provisional standings revealed the first patterns of dominance. In the men’s ranking, Ukraine’s Major Kmetiuk led with 3,272 points, ahead of a compact Chinese group formed by Wenfa Xu, Yahao Li and Yixing Zhu, followed by Spain’s Sergeant Jorge Laguna and Finland’s Senior Lieutenant Lauri Ikonen. In the women’s competition, China’s Flying Officer Haoqin He held first place with 2,988 points, followed by Brazil’s Sergeant Ellen Souza and China’s Sergeant Kaili Zhang. Lithuania’s Sergeant Vaiva Pestinké, China’s Pilot Officer Jia Wang and Finland’s Staff Sergeant Heini Pelto remained in close contact, keeping the suspense alive for the final events. At team level, China moved to the top in both the men’s and women’s standings, with Ukraine, Spain, Finland and Brazil still in position to challenge.
The fourth day, devoted to the Ball Contest at CDA, added another layer of intensity. This discipline, unique to the aeronautical pentathlon, blends coordination, speed and precision in a timed sequence of throws and rebounds. In the men’s competition, Denmark’s Sergeant Oscar Paustian emerged as the winner with 994 points after an almost flawless series, ahead of the Czech Republic’s Captain Václav Daněk and Spain’s Sergeant Major Victor Sánchez. Strong performances from Chinese and Ukrainian athletes kept the overall battle extremely tight. In the women’s contest, China again impressed. Flying Officer Haoqin He won with 900 points ahead of Pilot Officer Jia Wang, while Spain’s Sergeant Andrea Fernández ranked third. Brazil’s Sergeant Mariana Bagnara and Sergeant Ellen Souza, as well as Lithuania’s Sergeant Vaiva Pestinké and Finland’s Staff Sergeant Pelto, all contributed important points.
After four disciplines, Ukraine’s Major Kmetiuk still led the men’s individual standings with 4,152 points. China occupied the next three positions through Yahao Li, Yixing Zhu and Minghao Li, while Ukraine’s Major Mykhailo Bezuhlyi and Brazil’s Captain Ariel Kaczmark remained in the top group. In the women’s ranking, Haoqin He extended her lead with 3,888 points. Sergeant Souza remained second with 3,458 points, followed by Kaili Zhang and Jia Wang, with Vaiva Pestinké and Heini Pelto just behind. China strengthened its first place in both team tables, ahead of Ukraine and Brazil in the men’s, and Brazil and Spain in the women’s.
The final day brought the championship to its most demanding phase with the Obstacle Run at the 26th Parachute Infantry Battalion and the Orienteering Race at the 27th Parachute Infantry Battalion. On the obstacle course, Ukraine showed impressive collective strength. Major Mykhailo Bezuhlyi won the men’s event with 1,112 points, just ahead of Brazil’s Lieutenant Thiago Gomes and Ukraine’s Major Kmetiuk. In the women’s race, China once more demonstrated outstanding consistency, with Pilot Officer Jia Wang, Flying Officer Haoqin He and Sergeant Kaili Zhang taking the top three places.
The Orienteering Race then provided the final turn in this multi event contest. Brazil’s Lieutenant Walney Oliveira produced a brilliant performance to win the men’s race, while Ukraine’s Major Bezuhlyi and Spain’s Captain Eduardo Martínez Osorio claimed the remaining podium spots. In the women’s event, Brazil’s Sergeant Ellen Souza offered the home crowd a memorable victory, finishing ahead of Haoqin He and Kaili Zhang.
When all six disciplines were completed, the final results confirmed Major Dmytro Kmetiuk of Ukraine as the new men’s world champion with 5,303 points. China’s Flying Officer Wenfa Xu took silver with 5,118 points and Flight Sergeant Yahao Li earned bronze with 5,019. In the women’s competition, Flying Officer Haoqin He of China was crowned world champion with 5,145 points. Brazil’s Sergeant Ellen Souza claimed silver with 4,947 points and China’s Sergeant Kaili Zhang secured bronze with 4,912. In the team standings, Ukraine won the men’s overall title ahead of China and Brazil, while China dominated the women’s ranking ahead of Brazil and Sweden.
The championship concluded with an emotional Closing and Award Ceremony at UNIFA attended by CISM President Colonel Rolim, Major General Rashid Mahbook Al Dosari and Colonel Alex Dall Osso Minussi, General Coordinator of the event. Medals and trophies were presented to athletes and teams, the Newcomer Trophy was awarded to China’s Flight Sergeant Yahao Li and the prestigious Friendship Through Sport Trophy went to Denmark for exemplary fair play and team spirit. As the CISM flag was lowered, the 61st World Military Aeronautical Pentathlon Championship closed with a strong message of excellence, friendship and cooperation, proving once again that military sport is a powerful bridge between nations and a celebration of shared values in uniform.
Find more information on the official website of the Local Organizing Committe: http://aeropentathlonbrazil2025.com/
 | China and Ukraine shine as the 61st CISM WMC Aeronautical Pentathlon takes off in Brazil |
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(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)
