PARIS — World champion Seong Seung-min secured her spot in the final of the women's modern pentathlon at the Paris Olympics, delivering a strong performance across multiple disciplines on Saturday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Seong finished fourth in Group A of the semifinals, accumulating a total of 1,400 points, well within the top nine qualifiers needed to advance to Sunday's final. The event was held at the iconic Chateau de Versailles, signaling high stakes and grandeur. Seong, only 21, has risen as a strong medal contender, having won her first world title earlier in June.
Seong's performance began with the equestrian show jumping event, where she scored 293 points. The fencing bonus round followed, where competitors engaged in 30-second bouts, seeded by their results from Thursday's ranking round. Seong faced a setback, losing her bout to Elena Micheli of Italy, which prevented her from adding to her initial fencing score of 225 points.
In the 200-meter freestyle swimming event, Seong recorded the fourth fastest time, finishing in 2:12.44 and earning 286 points. Entering the final event, the laser run, Seong was in fourth place with a total of 804 points. The laser run combined a 600m running course with shooting segments, where Seong excelled, picking up 596 points after completing the race in 11:44.13.
Seong reflected on her performance, noting the challenges she faced, especially with the shooting component. "I was worried about show jumping but I did well there. But shooting didn't go so well," she said. The noise from the crowd and proximity to a French athlete added to her challenges, yet she anticipates these experiences will aid her preparation for the final round.
Looking ahead, Seong is determined to improve her shooting and avoid mistakes in the final. "My primary goal was to reach the final and finish my show jumping without getting hurt. I took care of those today. I will try to be better at shooting tomorrow," Seong stated, setting her sights on a strong finish in the final and potentially securing the first female modern pentathlon medal for South Korea.