Annika Zillekens Bids Farewell to Modern Pentathlon at Paris Olympics

At the Paris Olympics, Annika Zillekens wrapped up her Modern Pentathlon career with plenty of emotions. It was a bittersweet moment for the 34-year-old athlete, especially after her challenging experience at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.

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Back then, while competing under her maiden name of Schleu, Annika was on the verge of winning gold. But her horse had other plans, repeatedly refusing to jump. The scene was heartbreaking as she cried and screamed in frustration, while her coach Kim Raisner was seen hitting the horse. This incident sparked a global conversation about the welfare of horses used in sports.

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As a result of these discussions, the Modern Pentathlon faced major changes. The sport was taken off the Olympic program for the 2028 Games but then got a chance at redemption by swapping out horses for obstacle courses.

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Reflecting on her last competition, Annika shared, “Of course it was really emotional.” She had hoped for a better outcome in Paris but felt content just to be back competing after the tough time following the outrage at Tokyo.

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Having married fellow pentathlete Christian Zillekens, she felt welcomed back into the sport. “It was a really hard time after Tokyo,” she said, but expressed gratitude towards the pentathlon community for their support.

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During Saturday’s show jumping, Zillekens was assigned a horse randomly, which led to a difficult ride. She ended up with 25 penalty points due to lost time and not clearing fences, attributing some of the challenges to herself.

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Despite everything, she’s at peace with closing this chapter of her career. “I always loved the riding in Pentathlon,” she mentioned, acknowledging the transition to the new format. She’s excited for the younger generations who will be able to enjoy the sport in its new form.