Kate French Bids Farewell to Modern Pentathlon

Kate French the Olympic gold medalist and prominent figure in modern pentathlon has announced her retirement from the sport. The 33-year-old from Kent leaves behind a remarkable career that includes five world championship medals, six European golds and a World Cup title. French ranked number one in the world during a dominant 2021, a year that solidified her place as one of the sport’s top athletes.

After taking a break from competition for 18 months, French returned to the sport last summer with hopes of competing in Paris. However, illness hindered her performance and she withdrew from the competition on the final day. Despite this setback, she reflected on her career with gratitude, sharing on Instagram that she leaves the sport “with a heart full of happiness and a head full of wonderful memories.”

She acknowledged the ups and downs of her journey but emphasized that it had been an incredible adventure. French began her career in modern pentathlon in 2007 when she joined the British Pathway Programme. She joined the junior world championship-winning team in 2010, and by 2013, she secured her first senior world gold in Taiwan. French made her Olympic debut in 2016, finishing fifth.

She went on to win the gold medal at the Tokyo Games in 2021, setting an Olympic record with a personal best in the 200m freestyle and dominating the laser run. After a break post-Tokyo, Kate French returned briefly in 2023 but ultimately decided to retire, choosing not to pursue a spot at the Paris 2024 Games.

Her coach, Jamie Cooke, praised her dominance in the sport and the inspiration she continues to provide. Modern pentathlon will undergo significant changes for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics with showjumping removed and replaced by an obstacle course.