The 2024 FISU World University Championships witnessed thrilling performances as Egypt and Lithuania took top honors in the men’s and women’s individual events, respectively.
In the women’s competition, Elzė Adomaitytė of Lithuania delivered an outstanding performance, clinching the gold medal with her superior speed and precise shooting. Adomaitytė’s dominance was evident as she pulled ahead in the second lap and maintained her lead, leaving her competitors, Poland’s Maja Biernacka and Mat Gorzata Karbownik, nearly a minute behind. Despite the strong showing from the Polish athletes in the earlier OD race, Adomaitytė’s decisive breakaway in the final lap of laser run secured her victory.
The men’s final was marked by a dramatic finish between two Egyptian athletes, Moetaz Abouelyazid and Moustafa Abouamer. The duo went head-to-head in a nail-biting race that was decided only at the finish line, with Abouelyazid edging out his compatriot to claim the gold medal. Italy’s Emanuele Tromboni secured the bronze, showcasing an impressive time of 00:23:75 in the OD race, which was only bested by Abouamer’s even faster time. However, Abouelyazid’s exceptional performance in the shooting phase ultimately earned him the top spot on the podium.
These remarkable achievements underscore the high level of competition at this year’s FISU World University Championships, with athletes demonstrating excellence and determination across the board.
Medalist Reactions at the 2024 FISU World University Championships
Gold medalist Elzė Adomaitytė expressed her delight after her victory in Kaunas: “I’m so happy to have won here in Kaunas. Competing in just the OD race and laser run was so much fun. I enjoyed every moment. Thank you to the organizers for making this event happen.”
Maja Biernacka, who took the silver medal in the women’s event, spoke about her accomplishment despite the absence of her strongest pentathlon events: “Fencing and swimming are usually my strongest events, so I’m thrilled to have won silver without them. I had something to prove to myself, and I did.”
In the men’s category, gold medalist Moetaz Abouelyazid shared his pride in adding another accolade to his collection: “I’m really happy to add this medal to my collection. It’s a great honor to become a student champion in modern pentathlon.”
Silver medalist Moustafa Abouamer expressed his satisfaction with his performance after taking a break from competitions: “It’s such a joy to win second place. I took some time off from pentathlon competitions, and I’m so happy that I can still compete at the same level as my teammates, who are incredibly strong competitors.”
Finally, Emanuele Tromboni of Italy, who also made it to the podium, commented on the format of the event: “Competing in the OD race and laser run is a lot of fun, but I do miss fencing and swimming.”
The championship is partially funded by the Lithuanian National Sports Agency
24 Aug
