Türkiye claims Mixed Relay gold as 50th CISM World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship opens in Portugal
CALDAS DA RAINHA (POR) – The 50th CISM World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship officially opened in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal, on 24 September 2026, bringing together military pentathletes from 13 nations for four days of international competition under the CISM motto, “Friendship through Sport.”
Athletes and delegations from Brazil, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye and Ukraine are taking part in this landmark 50th edition of the championship, hosted by the Portuguese Armed Forces.
The Opening Ceremony on 24 September marked the official start of the championship and welcomed athletes, officials and representatives of the participating nations to Caldas da Rainha. CISM President Colonel Nilton Gomes Rolim Filho attended the ceremony and addressed the delegations, highlighting the values shared by military service and modern pentathlon. Also present at the Opening Ceremony were Brigadier General Catherine Marchetti of Canada, the Official CISM Representative (OCR) for the championship, and Dr Pedro Vieira, Deputy Director-General for Human Resources of National Defence, alongside representatives of the Portuguese Armed Forces, CISM and the international modern pentathlon community.
“Modern pentathlon demands versatility, resilience, and rapid adaptability, qualities every soldier understands and practices daily in service to their country,” Colonel Rolim said, underlining the close connection between the demands of the sport and those of military life.
Modern pentathlon also holds particular significance for the CISM President, who has been personally involved in the discipline throughout his military and sporting career, including as an athlete, coach, CISM committee member, UIPM instructor and President of the CISM Modern Pentathlon Sports Committee.
In his address, Colonel Rolim also stressed the wider role of military sport in building bridges between nations. “Military sports possess a unique power to overcome barriers, align nations, and unify people,” he said. “We demonstrate that diplomacy here on the sports field through respect, mutual trust, and honorable competition.”
The CISM President praised the work of the Portuguese Armed Forces, the Portuguese Delegation to CISM, the Commission for Physical Education and Military Sports, the Army Sergeants School, the Organizing Committee and the Portuguese Modern Pentathlon Federation, led by its President, Dr João Paulo de Almeida. He also highlighted CISM’s cooperation with the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) and the development of the Obstacle Laser Run format being showcased in Portugal.
Looking ahead, Colonel Rolim connected the championship with the next major milestone on the CISM sporting calendar, the 8th CISM Military World Summer Games, which will take place in the United States in 2027, describing the competition in Portugal as an important step on the road towards the Games.
Addressing the athletes directly, the CISM President concluded with a message reflecting the spirit of the championship: “Compete with honor, stand united in friendship, and carry forward the true spirit of CISM – Friendship through sport.”
Also representing CISM throughout the championship is Lieutenant Commander (CG) Andreas-Eleftherios Idra, President of the CISM Modern Pentathlon Sports Committee (PCSC), supporting the organisation and technical conduct of the competition.
Following the Opening Ceremony, sporting action moved into full focus on 25 September with the Mixed Relay, where Türkiye delivered the strongest overall performance of the day.
The Turkish pair of Eren Tasyaran and Ilke Ozyuksel captured the gold medal with a total of 847 points. They recorded 323 points in the obstacle event before adding 524 points in the Laser Run to secure first place. France finished just six points behind to take silver. Jean-Baptiste Mourcia and Rebecca Castaudi accumulated 841 points, combining 316 points in the obstacle event with 525 points in the Laser Run.
The bronze medal went to Germany’s Miklos Rieger and Josefine Unterberger, who completed the competition with 837 points. Their 531-point Laser Run performance helped Germany secure the final place on the podium.
Hungary narrowly missed the podium, with Csaba Böhm and Noémi Eszes finishing fourth on 827 points. Ukraine occupied the next two positions, with Maksym Aharushev and Valeriya Permykina fifth on 815 points, followed by Oleh Rybak and Iryna Boicheniuk in sixth with 805.
The Mixed Relay provided an exciting start to the competitive programme and set the stage for the individual world military titles still to be decided in Caldas da Rainha.
The 50th CISM World Military Modern Pentathlon Championship continues on 26 September with the Men’s Final and Women’s Final, when the athletes will return to competition in pursuit of the individual world military titles.
(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department – Pictures: CISM and Portuguese Delegation to CISM)
