29 December 2024
| THE HEARTBEAT OF WOMEN'S SPORT
Home   >   London 2012   >   London 2012: Team GB success inspires modern pentathletes

London 2012: Team GB success inspires modern pentathletes

August 9, 2024

Team GB modern pentathlon head coach Jan Bartu believes the performances of British athletes so far at London 2012 are an inspiration to his team.

Great Britain’s modern pentathletes moved into the Athletes’ Village earlier this week, and Bartu believes the atmosphere will give them a boost ahead of competition this weekend.

“Coming to the village yesterday was just about the right time,” said Bartu. “The spirit is fantastic and Team GB are doing unbelievably well. We believe this will give the athletes the necessary push once the weekend comes around.

“I think the course at Greenwich will favour our athletes because it is pretty hilly and they are all strong runners. All of our athletes are fit and ready and I have to say I don’t remember a period like this where we haven’t had any problems or worries and I’m very confident that they’re all fit and ready.”

Team leader Dominic Mahony was also in confident mood at the pre-competition press conference in Stratford, and said the team’s training and preparation had gone well.

“The training periods have gone very well and smoothly and now the athletes are down here in the village we’re just familiarising ourselves and getting used to the venues,” he said.

“We had two very good and worthwhile training periods in the French Pyrenees and a 10-day period back in Bath, mainly for riding training and also to get used to being back at sea level.”

Britain’s reigning world champion Mhairi Spence, who will be competing in the women’s event on Sunday, said: “I really enjoyed our time training at altitude in Font Romeu, but it’s nice to finally be here in the Village and to officially start our Olympic journey.

“It’s been really inspirational to see how well the other Team GB athletes are doing and how many have stepped up to the mark. I hope I can be one of them. We’ve got a few more days to go and we’ll be ready to race on the day.”

She will be joined by Samantha Murray, who added: “On Sunday it will be another day in the office for me. With pentathlon there’s always a chance something won’t go according to plan, but it’s how you deal with it that counts.”

Sportsister

The Women’s Sports Magazine

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Select a sport

Find out how to get started, training plans and expert advice.