pentathlon
pronunciation
How to pronounce pentathlon in British English:
UK [penˈtæθlən]
How to pronounce pentathlon in American English:
US [pen'tæθlən]
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- Noun:
- an athletic contest consisting of five different events
Word Origin
- pentathlon (n.)
- athletic contest of five events, 1852, from Greek pentathlon "the contest of five exercises," from pente "five" (see five) + athlon "prize, contest," of uncertain origin. Earlier in English in Latin form pentathlum (1706). The Greek version consisted of jumping, sprinting, discus and spear throwing, and wrestling. The modern version (1912) consists of horseback riding, fencing, shooting, swimming, and cross-country running.
Example
- 1. At the beijing olympics , she will compete in the five-sport modern pentathlon .
- 2. For the first time in olympic history , sydney 2000 featured a women 's modern pentathlon event .
- 3. During that military sports competition , he had a very good result in the military pentathlon .
- 4. In fact , the whole team has managed to receive the last medal from the women 's modern pentathlon closing the totals medals received to 65 .
- 5. However , in the modern pentathlon , athletes need to draw lots to decide which horse they will use and have about twenty minutes prior to competing to get familiar with it .