Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation President Sherif Al-Erian is running for the highest seat in the international body.

Elections for the world pentathlon presidency are scheduled to be held at the 73rd International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM) Congress on 16-17 November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The UIPM is electing a new president after German Klaus Schorman, now 78, announced his retirement. Schorman has been president since 1993.

Al-Arian, who is also UIPM vice-president and secretary-general of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, is not alone in the race for the top spot. He will face tough competition from Frenchman Joel Bouzou and Rob Stull from the US.

UIPM introduced a brief bio of each candidate. Now 69, Bouzou was the men’s bronze medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles Games, the 1987 world champion, and is the obvious favourite, having been the UIPM secretary-general for 15 years beginning in the late 1990s. He has been a UIPM vice-president since 2012.

A 1992 Olympian for Egypt, now 54, Al-Erian is the head of the Egyptian Modern Pentathlon Federation. That’s important, as Egypt has become a major power in the sport during his tenure, with Ahmed Al-Gendi winning the Paris men’s gold this summer, and the silver Olympic medal in Tokyo 2020 and Egyptian, plus winning nine medals in the last three Worlds. Wrote the UIPM website on Al-Erian: “If anyone can claim development credentials, he can. Can he carry the African and Middle East federations? A sign of possible doubt: he is also running as a candidate for vice-president should he not be elected president.”

Stull is a four-time US Olympian in the sport and was one of the long-time advocates for obstacle racing in the sport. Now 64, he is the managing director of USA Pentathlon and head of the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NORCECA) confederation. He has been a UIPM executive board member since 2016.

Since announcing his intention to go for the elections, Al-Erian has been supported by the Egyptian pentathlon community. On behalf of the Egyptian pentathlon family, athletes, coaches and administrations, the Paris Olympic gold medalist Al-Gendi took to social media in support of Al-Erian with an emotional message.

“Dear Sherif Ahmed Al-Erian, on behalf of all of us at the Egyptian Modern Pentathlon community, I want to express our immense pride in you. Your dedication and leadership have been a beacon of inspiration for us all. As you go through the elections of the International Federation, please remember that win or lose, our admiration and support for you remain unwavering. Your journey and efforts have already made us proud beyond words. Thank you for representing us with such honor and distinction.”

Proud of his pentathlon community, Al-Erian, dubbed the godfather of the sport, wrote back: “Thank you Ahmed Osama Al-Gendi for those kind inspiring words. My greatest happiness is in serving the athletes and all our pentathlon community. This to me is more important than anything. If elected president of UIPM I will have the honor of serving all our worldwide pentathlon family (equally & honestly). Long live our beloved sport, Modern Pentathlon”.