GENEVA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- International Modern Pentathlon Union President Rob Stull said Thursday that the sport's reforms over the past three years have been successful and that modern pentathlon is well prepared for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

The Paris Olympics in 2024 marked the final appearance of the traditional five-discipline format featuring fencing, swimming, riding, shooting and running. UIPM voted in 2023 to replace equestrian with obstacle racing beginning at the Los Angeles Games.

"It's nice when you have proof points that you made the right choice," Stull said. "That process is continuing and will continue well into Los Angeles. I think you're going to see an even stronger pentathlon in LA."

Stoll summarized UIPM's recent work with three themes: accessibility, billions and commercial opportunities.

"Accessibility is the biggest driver from equestrian to obstacle, which resulted in reduced costs and increased training opportunities," he explained. "Billions means the number, size and scope of our new audience grows at a speed that exceeded our expectations. And for commercial, our re-imagining opened opportunities far beyond what ever existed before."

According to UIPM statistics, the sport has enjoyed 71 percent growth across its social media community since 2025 and a 127 percent increase in youth participation since 2023.

Modern pentathlon has been part of the Olympic program since 1912, but UIPM says the reforms are helping attract younger audiences, in line with the International Olympic Committee's "Fit For The Future" project introduced after IOC President Kirsty Coventry took office last year.

Stull said he met briefly with Coventry on Wednesday and discussed manageable competitions and youth-focused programs.

"I think most international federations really appreciate the approach the IOC is taking now because it's transparent and very sharp, and at the same time it's for the best interest of the future Games," UIPM Secretary General Shiny Fang said during an online conference.

UIPM has also reduced the swimming discipline from 200 meters to 100 meters and is considering the possibility of staging swimming events in open water at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

"We allow open water," Stull said. "I've told Brisbane that we want to be the solution, not the problem in terms of venues. We can share venues with multiple sports."

"On the other side of the coin, you can see the creativity," Fang added. "It provides more possibilities and different types of value. With the flexibility and creativity, we can be much more attractive and give a different feeling for spectators." ■