Modern Pentathlete Natalya Coyle placed 5th on Friday at the World Cup Final against 36 of the top competitors in the sport.
Directly replicating the Olympic Games event, Coyle’s performance parades that her Tokyo preparations are very much prospering, having already qualified with her 8th place finish at the European Championships in 2019.
Although not her record best showing in that she settled fourth at the same event in Astana in 2018, this achievement was the Meath native’s leading individual appearance on the global stage since she claimed silver in the 2019 Cairo World Cup.
5th place at World Cup Final!! ⭐️
I’m so happy! This event replicates the Olympic Games so I’m just delighted! ??❤️#TeamIreland pic.twitter.com/FlMLJ2xFmE
— Natalya Coyle (@Natalyacoyle) May 14, 2021
Speaking after the event the 30 year old remarked how she was “really happy with how the whole day went.”
“I had a solid fence and swim, my horse was great and my Laser Run was great” she said.
“It’s been a long year with Covid so I can’t explain how happy I am to be mixing it with the best in the world again.”
Irish teammate Sive Brassil also competed in the Hungary meeting, depositing a 25th spot finish into the books and keeping her Olympic dream alive in the process.
The result will move her up the World rankings and leave her in good stead for the World Championships which are to unfold in June of this year.
She described the affair as “a tough competition” and was disappointed with her exhibit in two of the five categories.
“[It wasn’t a] great result in the fencing and shooting, but I was happy with a clear round in the riding and my physical events were strong” she said.
.@Natalyacoyle has placed 5th in The World Cup final in Hungary? @sivebraz finished in 25th amongst the Worlds top athletes.
Great performance from both athletes across the events and a 1st taste of the new Olympic format ?#TeamIreland ??#20×20 pic.twitter.com/UeTp2LSeZ0
— Pentathlon Ireland (@Pent_Ireland) May 14, 2021
With five disciplines to focus on; running, swimming, shooting, show jumping and fencing, the event is both gruelling and challenging on the mind as well as the body.
Here’s hoping we will see the full set of the duo in Tokyo during the summer, and perhaps even in medal contention!