The 2024 FISU World University Championships Modern Pentathlon concluded today in Kaunas with an exciting Mixed Relay competition. Ten teams from Egypt, Spain, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, and Poland participated in the event.
Despite an unexpected setback, Team Egypt emerged victorious. Yesterday evening, Egypt’s second team had to withdraw due to an injury, but this did not stop the country from securing another gold medal. The Egyptian duo, Zeina Amer and Moustafa Abouamer, showcased outstanding performances, particularly in the OCR race, where they clocked a time of 00:55.10, and in the laser run, finishing in 12:59.98. Leading the race from start to finish, they claimed the title of student Mixed relay champions.
Poland’s top team, represented by Małgorzata Karbownik and Maciej Klimek, delivered an exciting and strong performance throughout the event. They were incredibly fast in the OCR race, finishing in second place with a time of 00:58.63. Małgorzata Karbownik made a thrilling move by overtaking Egyptian competitor Zeina Amer, who had a 7-second advantage, and led the laser run for a while. However, in the second part of the competition, Maciej Klimek was overtaken by the Egyptian athlete, but Poland still finished strong, securing the silver medal.
The competition saw a thrilling fight for the bronze medal, with Hungary’s second team, Noémi Eszes and Zsombor Tarkanyi, delivering a breathtaking comeback. After a challenging start that left them in sixth place following the OCR race, clocking a time of 01:11.67, the Hungarian duo refused to back down. With precision shooting and lightning-fast runs, they surged through the field, overtaking Poland’s second team in a dramatic finish to claim the bronze medal for Hungary. Their determination and resilience turned the tide in their favor, securing a hard-fought place on the podium.
Winner Reactions:
Zeina Amer and Moustafa Abouamer (Egypt, Gold Medalists): ” You don’t have to choose between studies and sports! It is absolutely possible to balance one ant the other! Sports teach you incredible time management, which helps in your studies, and they shape you into a person of integrity.
Małgorzata Karbownik and Maciej Klimek (Poland, Silver Medalists): “Hard work really does pay off! But it’s just as important to enjoy the journey. Competing here has been an amazing experience, and we’re thrilled to bring a silver medal back to Poland. What a ride!”
Noémi Eszes and Zsombor Tarkanyi (Hungary, Bronze Medalists): “Never, ever give up! Always push for more. The love for sport is one of the most beautiful things in life, and it’s what drove us to fight back today. It paid off with a bronze this time, but next time, we’re going for gold!”
Official Speeches at the Closing Ceremony:
At the closing ceremony, Justinas Kinderis, Advisor on Sports Policy at the Ministry of Education, Science, and Sports, highlighted the true spirit of the championship. He remarked, “The goal of this championship was not just about competing, but also about building friendships between universities and athletes from different countries. Judging by the smiles on the participants’ faces, I believe we’ve achieved that goal.”
Indrė Čelkienė, President of the Lithuanian Student Sports Association (LSSA), expressed her gratitude to the organizational committee and the volunteers, acknowledging their incredible work in making the event a success. Finally, Marian Dymalski, Vice President of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), officially declared the championships closed, marking the end of a memorable event.
The championship is partially funded by the Lithuanian National Sports Agency.
23 Aug
