Anna Jurt and Oleh Rybak crowned champions as 50th CISM World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship concludes in Portugal

 

 

CALDAS DA RAINHA (POR) – The 50th CISM World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship reached its conclusion on Saturday, 26 September 2026, in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, with the Women’s and Men’s Finals bringing the sporting programme to an exciting close before the Closing Ceremony, cultural visit and final banquet.

 

After several days of competition, the decisive finals saw Anna Jurt of Switzerland and Oleh Rybak of Ukraine claim the individual women’s and men’s CISM world military titles respectively.

 

 

In the Women’s Final, Switzerland’s Anna Jurt delivered the strongest overall performance to finish at the top of the standings with 974 points. Jurt recorded 351 points in the obstacle discipline before adding 623 points in the Laser Run to secure the gold medal. Türkiye’s İlke Özyüksel Mihrioğlu finished just six points behind, taking silver with 968 points, while Germany’s Josefine Unterberger completed the podium with 962 points.

 

The women’s team competition produced another success for Türkiye. İlke Özyüksel Mihrioğlu, Sıdal Aslan and Ebrar Çalışkan combined for 2,685 points to take gold, ahead of Ukraine with 2,653 points and Italy with 2,620 points.

 

The Men’s Final was equally competitive, with Oleh Rybak of Ukraine emerging as CISM World Military Champion with 1,054 points, consisting of 368 points in the obstacle discipline and 686 points in the Laser Run. Hungary’s Csaba Böhm took silver with 1,052 points, only two points behind the champion, while Türkiye’s Eren Kıvanç Taşyaran claimed bronze with 1,048 points.

 

 

Ukraine also secured the men’s team title, as Oleh Rybak, Yuriy Kovalchuk and Maksym Aharushev accumulated 3,113 points. Türkiye finished second with 3,068 points, while Poland completed the podium with 2,975 points.

 

Following the finals, athletes, officials and delegations gathered for the Closing Ceremony, during which Brigadier General Catherine Marchetti of Canada, CISM Official Representative (OCR) and member of the CISM Board of Directors, delivered the closing address on behalf of CISM.

 

Reflecting on the significance of the championship, Brigadier General Marchetti highlighted not only the performances achieved in Caldas da Rainha but also the relationships created between military athletes from 13 nations.

 

 

“Today, as we conclude the 50th Military World Modern Pentathlon Championship, we celebrate not only outstanding athletic performances, but also something far greater: the bonds of friendship, mutual respect, and understanding forged among military personnel from around the world,” she said.

 

She recalled one of CISM’s fundamental principles: “to bring together soldiers from all continents on the sports field, instead of the battlefield, contributing to world peace through friendship and sport,” noting that military athletes from different nations, cultures and backgrounds had competed fiercely while simultaneously building friendships that transcend borders.

 

 

Brigadier General Marchetti also expressed CISM’s gratitude to Portugal, the Portuguese Armed Forces, the Organizing Committee and all partners who contributed to the championship, praising the professionalism and hospitality shown throughout the event. She also thanked the athletes for their dedication and the example they had set, as well as the coaches, technical officials and support staff for their work behind the scenes.

 

During the Closing Ceremony, Portugal was also presented with the Friendship through Sport Award by CISM Partner A5DM, recognising the spirit of friendship and the values promoted throughout the championship.

 

Looking beyond the competition itself, she encouraged participants to carry forward the friendships created during the championship and underlined the wider role of military sport: “Let us continue to demonstrate that military personnel can be ambassadors of peace, respect, and cooperation through sport.”

 

 

On behalf of CISM President Colonel Nilton Rolim Filho, Brigadier General Marchetti then officially declared the 50th CISM World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship closed.

 

Saturday’s programme also included a cultural visit, giving the delegations an opportunity to discover more of the host region and spend time together away from competition. The championship concluded with the traditional final banquet, bringing together athletes, officials, organisers and CISM representatives for a final moment of camaraderie.

 

From 23 to 27 September, Caldas da Rainha hosted this landmark 50th edition of the CISM World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship, combining high-level competition with the values of solidarity, mutual respect and international friendship embodied by the CISM motto, “Friendship through Sport.”

 

(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)