modern pentathlon

Variant of pentathlon

pentathlon definition

pentath·lon (pen tat̸h′län′, -lən)

noun

  1. an athletic contest in which each contestant takes part in five events (long jump, javelin throw, 200-meter dash, discus throw, and 1,500-meter run)
  2. in the Olympic games, a contest consisting of five events (5,000-meter cross-country horseback ride, 4,000-meter cross-country run, 300-meter swim, foil fencing, and pistol shooting)
    in full modern pentathlon

Etymology: Gr pentathlon < penta-, five + athlon, a prize, contest

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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