Joe Choong hopes to “break the curse” by becoming the first British man to win an individual Olympic medal in modern pentathlon next year.
The 24-year-old took his first opportunity to secure one of two places for male pentathletes in the British team in Tokyo by winning the World Cup Final in the Japanese capital in June.
Modern pentathlon – which comprises fencing, swimming, show jumping, running and shooting – has been part of the Olympic programme for men since 1912 but Britain’s only medals have come in the discontinued team event.
And in 1st place, a huge congratulations to Joseph Choong who is taking home the gold at the UIPM 2019 Pentathlon World Cup Final in Tokyo, what a hero!!! ?#WorldCupTokyo #Modernpentathlon pic.twitter.com/4bsZHv7QAg
— UIPM – World Pentathlon (@WorldPentathlon) June 29, 2019
By contrast, British women have won five medals since the sport was added in 2000, with Rio three years ago the first time there was no British representation on the podium.
“I’ve always seen this growing up,” Londoner Choong told PA. “When I was a youth following the London and Beijing Olympics, I was just looking at the men thinking, ‘Why are they not shooting quicker?’, or whatever.
“I’ve always been really confident and I’d absolutely love to be able to go and break the curse, so to speak.”
Choong currently sits second in the world rankings having also picked up two silver medals at World Cups this season while his team-mate Jamie Cooke, the reigning world champion, is one place behind him.
TEAM SELECTION ✍️
2019 World Cup Final winner Joe Choong will lead a 13-strong British line-up at a home European Championships which begin at the University of Bath next week !
Full team details ➡ https://t.co/3FpGw7eXx5#GladiatorsReturn pic.twitter.com/OOr1PTAlYM
— Pentathlon GB (@PentathlonGB) July 30, 2019
All of which has altered the gender dynamics in the British team, with the women no longer able to claim the upper hand.
“They used to but in recent years the boys have been winning more medals than the girls so they can’t really mention it any more,” said Choong. “We have some bragging rights now, if not yet at the Olympics.”
Choong will be heading to his second Olympics having finished a hugely creditable 10th on his debut in Rio as a 20-year-old.
But, having gone into the final event – the laser-run – in second place, the memories are bittersweet.
“So, while I did really enjoy it, ever since then it’s been, ‘I want to redeem myself and get a medal at the next Olympics’, what I think I should have been able to do at the first one.
“That’s my thoughts going into Tokyo, that I’m going to prove to myself that I am good enough for an Olympic medal. It’s definitely something I use to motivate myself through tough sessions.”
Choong will be one of the big favourites for another title on home soil in Bath next week when he heads the British team at the European Championships.
There’s just 7️⃣ days to go until the European Modern Pentathlon Championships at the @UniofBath!
There’s a stellar entry list and continental crowns & Olympic qualifying places up for grabs!
Don’t miss out on being part of the action ➡️ https://t.co/GisJst5CFk pic.twitter.com/aFof1rTRXf
— Pentathlon GB (@PentathlonGB) July 30, 2019
Cooke and 2018 European silver medallist Kate French will look to secure two of the 16 Olympic qualifying places up for grabs while Tom Toolis, Sam Curry, Jess Varley, Jo Muir and Francesca Summers make up the team for the individual events.
The pressure is off for Choong, but he will not be resting on his laurels.
“I’m second in the world, so that’s really nice to see, but pentathlon’s a really tough sport to be consistent in so I could win every competition up to the Olympics and it’s still not guaranteed that I’ll win there,” he said.
“I just need to keep working and put as much distance between me and my competitors as I can.”
