54th WMC Naval Pentathlon - Summary News
WUHAN (CHN) — The 54th CISM World Military Naval Pentathlon Championship transformed the Mulan Lake Campus of the Naval University of Engineering in Wuhan into a meeting point for navies from around the world. From 19 to 24 October 2025, military athletes from China, South Africa, Brazil, Cambodia, Spain, Iran, Italy, Pakistan and Russia, joined by observers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Myanmar, competed and shared a week marked by intensity, hospitality and the CISM motto Friendship Through Sport.
The event opened with a grand ceremony on 19 October. Delegations marched into the stadium to the melody of Ode to the Motherland, bringing together military precision and national pride. Rear Admiral Wang Xianzhong, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Peoples Liberation Army Navy, officially declared the championship open. In his welcome speech, Deputy Mayor Meng Hui underlined Wuhan’s pride in once again hosting CISM nations by the shores of Mulan Lake and invited all participants to discover the city’s culture and energy. Rear Admiral Peng Tao, President of the Naval University of Engineering and head of the Local Organizing Committee, reminded the assembled athletes that they were not only competitors but also ambassadors of peace and cooperation.
Representing CISM President Colonel Nilton Rolim, Official CISM Representative Colonel Joseph Bakari paid tribute to China’s long standing contribution to military sport. He recalled, among other milestones, the organization of the seventh CISM Military World Summer Games in Wuhan in 2019, a moment that remains a reference in CISM history. He assured the athletes that CISM considers every participant a champion and called on them to compete with integrity and fairness. During the opening, athlete Zhang Na took the oath on behalf of all competitors, while referee Jia Huifeng swore the referees’ oath, committing everyone to respect the rules and spirit of the championship. Traditional performances featuring chime bells, folk songs and martial arts highlighted the cultural richness of Hubei Province and offered a vivid introduction to the host region.
Competition began the following day with the first water events of the Naval Pentathlon, a demanding CISM discipline that combines Obstacle Race, Lifesaving Swimming Race, Utility Swimming Race, Seamanship Race and Amphibious Cross Country Race. Each event reproduces aspects of real naval operations and tests endurance, precision, seamanship and the ability to react under pressure.
The Utility Swimming Race opened the programme with immediate tension. This event requires athletes to swim while dealing with practical naval tasks such as handling equipment under strict time limits. In the women’s field, Russia’s Elizaveta Klimenteva set the tone with a superb victory, followed by Zhang Na of China and Brazil’s Tatiane Pereira de Souza. In the men’s race, Brazil’s Felicio Carrico Dal Col took first place just ahead of China’s Cheng Fengxuan and fellow Brazilian Ivanilson Soares de Sousa, already hinting at a close three way rivalry between Brazil, China and Russia.
The Lifesaving Swimming Race followed and brought another display of courage and operational readiness. Athletes swam in working dress and simulated the rescue of a person in distress. Klimenteva again proved untouchable with a second consecutive win, this time ahead of Tatiane Pereira de Souza and Russian teammate Iuliia Poturaeva. On the men’s side, Russia swept the podium through Nikita Kaletin, Viacheslav Pimenov and Ivan Nadorov, confirming the depth of the Russian team and the rising intensity of the championship.
Day two was dedicated to the Seamanship Race, perhaps the discipline that most directly reflects the daily skills of naval personnel. Tasks included line throwing, sail handling, knot work and rowing coordination, demanding both physical effort and fine technique. Under ideal conditions on Mulan Lake, China delivered a masterclass, winning all three medals in both the men’s and women’s events. Li Shun, Zhang Na and Xiao Jiahui formed an all Chinese podium among the women, while Ye Rentang, Cheng Fengxuan and Guo Ziyuan did the same for the men. Their flawless maneuvers and synchronised teamwork underlined the quality of Chinese naval training and preparation.
On the third day, attention turned to the Obstacle Race, a signature event of the Naval Pentathlon. Over a course of 305 metres for men and 280 metres for women, athletes faced a sequence of hurdles, balance beams, climbing nets, grenade throws through watertight doors, tunnels and rope traverses, all designed to reproduce the challenges of life at sea and aboard ships. Twenty one women and forty three men from across the participating nations took part. Once again, China confirmed its supremacy with a clean sweep in both categories. Zhang Na won the women’s race ahead of Li Shun and Xiao Jiahui. In the men’s event, Guo Ziyan finished first, followed by Yang Jin and Ye Rentang. Their performances, both powerful and technically precise, reinforced China’s position at the top of the individual and team standings.
The decisive day on 23 October brought the Amphibious Cross Country Race in the morning and the Obstacle Relay in the afternoon. The Amphibious Cross Country combined open water swimming and land running, demanding resilience and tactical management of effort. In the women’s race, Zhang Na confirmed her outstanding form with another victory, ahead of Brazil’s Tatiane Pereira de Souza and China’s Li Shun. In the men’s race, Russia struck back through Ivan Nadorov, who took first place ahead of compatriot Nikita Kaletin and China’s Cheng Fengxuan.
When all five individual disciplines had been completed, the overall rankings rewarded consistency across the entire programme. In the men’s individual classification, Cheng Fengxuan of China captured the title with 8,125 points, finishing just ahead of Russia’s Ivan Nadorov and China’s Yang Jin. Guo Ziyuan of China and Brazil’s Ivanilson Soares de Sousa completed the top five. In the women’s individual standings, Zhang Na crowned a remarkable championship with the gold medal and 6,187 points, followed by teammates Li Shun and Xiao Jiahui for a full Chinese podium. Russia’s Anna Antonova and Brazil’s Tatiane Pereira de Souza finished in the top positions just behind.
Team titles reflected the same pattern of dominance. China won both the men’s and women’s team championships thanks to a remarkable balance of depth and performance, with Russia in second place and Brazil in third in both categories. The Obstacle Relay Race provided a spectacular conclusion on the field. China won the women’s relay ahead of Brazil and Russia, while in the men’s relay China again finished first, followed by Spain and Russia.
The championship officially closed on 24 October with a ceremony that celebrated not only sporting results but also the values of solidarity and fair play. CISM officials, Chinese military authorities and representatives of the Local Organizing Committee attended the event. China received the CISM Friendship Through Sport Cup after a unanimous vote from participating nations, recognising not only its athletic results but also its role as a generous and efficient host. South Africa and Cambodia were awarded the Fair Play Cup in recognition of their exemplary spirit and attitude throughout the week. Several members of the Local Organizing Committee received the CISM Order of Merit for their contribution to military sport and to the success of the Wuhan championship.
In his closing address, Colonel Joseph Bakari underlined that Wuhan, once at the centre of world attention for other reasons, had now become a powerful symbol of resilience, renewal and cooperation. He stressed that every athlete, regardless of medal count, had honoured their nation, their armed forces and the ideals of CISM. Rear Admiral Peng Tao then formally declared the championship closed and, in the absence of a confirmed next host, the CISM flag was entrusted to Colonel Bakari on behalf of the CISM leadership.
The final medal table confirmed China’s supremacy with six gold, one silver and two bronze medals. Russia followed with three silver and two bronze medals, Brazil added one silver and two bronze, and Spain earned one silver. Beyond these numbers, the Wuhan edition of the Naval Pentathlon left a strong impression of excellence, organisation and hospitality, and once again demonstrated that Friendship Through Sport remains the unifying force at the heart of the International Military Sports Council.
 | Wuhan welcomes the world’s military athletes for the 54th WMC Naval Pentathlon |
 | Wuhan waters host a powerful start to the 54th WMC Naval Pentathlon |
 | China dominates the Seamanship Race on Day Two of the 54th WMC Naval Pentathlon |
 | Chinese athletes sweep the Obstacle Race at the 54th WMC Naval Pentathlon |
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 | A celebration of military sport and solidarity at the Closing of the 54th WMC Naval Pentathlon |
(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department and Chinese Delegation to CISM)
