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Marques aiming to be Brazil’s Bond girl in modern pentathlon

FILE - A Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012 photo from files of Margaux Isaksen, of the United States, left, being comforted by Lena Schoneborn, of Germany, after Isaksen finished fourth in the women's modern pentathlon at the 2012 Summer Olympics, in London. For the first time in modern pentathlon history, two sisters will compete in the same Games. It will be a third successive Olympics for 24-year-old American Margaux Isaksen, who was just two seconds away from a medal in London, and a first for younger sister Isabella, 22. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)
FILE - A Sunday, Aug. 12, 2012 photo from files of Margaux Isaksen, of the United States, left, being comforted by Lena Schoneborn, of Germany, after Isaksen finished fourth in the women's modern pentathlon at the 2012 Summer Olympics, in London. For the first time in modern pentathlon history, two sisters will compete in the same Games. It will be a third successive Olympics for 24-year-old American Margaux Isaksen, who was just two seconds away from a medal in London, and a first for younger sister Isabella, 22. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

By Associated Press 4 min read

There are few sports that owe their origins to the ancient equivalent of a Bond movie – but modern pentathlon is one of them.

It was created by French baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic movement, and combines all of the aspects of traditional combat.

The basic premise is of a soldier trapped in a castle on a lake. He must fence his way out before swimming to the shore, riding an unfamiliar horse out of the village and running through a wood shooting at enemies.

Modern pentathlon was first held at the 1912 Olympic Games and an event for women was added in 2000. It consists of fencing, swimming, show jumping, shooting and running.

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