An athlete prepares for the UIPM Obstacle World Championships at the National Olympic Sports Center in Beijing on October 21, 2025. Photo: Courtesy of the UIPM

When Rob Stull, president of Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), or the International Modern Pentathlon Union, walked into Beijing's National Olympic Sports Center, memories of the 2008 Beijing Olympics came rushing back. The same venue, the same Olympic spirit, but now hosting a brand-new discipline ready to redefine modern pentathlon. 

For Stull, the decision to launch the first edition of the UIPM Obstacle World Championships in China was both strategic and timely.

"It was a no-brainer for us. China has a huge market and is a very progressive nation when it comes to sports. The country's openness to new ideas, whether in sports, innovation or technology, made it a natural fit for us," Stull told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Wednesday.

The maiden Obstacle World Championships is set to take place in Beijing from Thursday to Sunday at the National Olympic Sports Center, the venue that hosted running and equestrian disciplines of the modern pentathlon during the 2008 Summer Olympics. 

Stull described his first impression upon entering the stadium as "jaw dropping."

"It was familiar because that was the venue from the 2008 pentathlon event here at the Beijing Games [in 2008]. It was nice to return to a familiar place. It's like coming home."

Beijing is set to host four consecutive editions of the Obstacle World Championships from 2025 to 2028. 

The obstacle race was added to modern pentathlon in November 2022, replacing equestrian as one of the five disciplines. The International Olympic Committee later approved the inclusion of modern pentathlon for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"The launch of this World Championships is a major step forward for UIPM and for athletes worldwide," Stull said. 

Making it more accessible

Beyond the scale of the market, Stull emphasized the local community's openness to new sports and innovation, a factor he considers essential for the success of the new obstacle-based discipline that replaced horse riding in November 2022.

For Stull, the success of a sporting event ultimately comes down to the people involved.

"What really makes these events unique are the people. You have a good group of volunteers, always smiles on their faces," he said, highlighting the warmth and enthusiasm he consistently encounters in China.

China's domestic sporting ecosystem provides another important foundation for modern pentathlon's growth, Stull said. He acknowledged the role of domestic youth-oriented obstacle competitions like Spartan races, which can help young athletes develop the skills required for obstacle racing.

"You have tremendous resources and a huge population. With the resources in the population, you can be successful in whatever you want to do," he said.

While Stull is confident in China's potential, he also acknowledges the challenges that come with balancing education and athletic development.

"Education is a key priority here in China for certain age groups. That's why we have such a good, large group of young people," Stull said. "But then at a certain age, they focus on their studies and that tends to happen. And then they step away from sports to focus on studies and maybe they come back and maybe they don't, but having a successful team in China will not be a problem if China wants that to happen."

The Obstacle World Championships in Beijing will feature elite athletes competing in speed sprints, endurance obstacles, technical rigs and the 100m races. At the same time, recreational athletes of all ages and backgrounds will compete in age-group divisions and a team event.

For Stull, this inclusivity is central to UIPM's long-term strategy.

"It's important to engage the youth of the world, as early an age as possible, so that hopefully they like it, they become engaged and they continue with it," he said. "You have to embrace the young people who have so many options today. They need far more than I had as a kid."

Accessibility and cultural resonance are key to establishing a lasting legacy. Stull hopes that the event will promote broad participation.

"A legacy we expect is the sports is promoted, and you engage the youth, you build a strong program. A big part of the reasons choosing obstacles was because of accessibility, the ability for young people to be able to participate," he said.

Eyeing long-term growth

The obstacle course format is designed to be accessible and visually engaging, which Stull believes aligns well with Chinese culture, particularly its affinity for martial and physical disciplines. 

Beyond immediate participation, Stull envisions long-term growth and community integration, suggesting the possibility of making obstacle race an individual Olympic medal event in the future.

"The vision is really to create awareness and popularize the obstacle event," he said. "Perhaps one day there will be an individual Olympic medal for these events under our umbrella. I think that's a definite possibility."

The four-year hosting agreement in Beijing is designed to ensure continuity and sustainable development, Stull noted.

He envisions the championships as a spark that could inspire new venues and new participants across China, a gradual expansion driven not just by ambition, but by shared enthusiasm for the sport.

Rather than relying solely on metrics, Stull gauges the success of the tournament by the experience itself, such as the engagement and the joy among the audiences.

"There's the usual sport-related metrics, which are broadcast numbers and commercial value. But I measure a lot of it by just walking into an arena and looking at the smiles. If I see happy people, I know we're doing something right," Stull said. 

UIPM President Rob Stull Photo: Lu Wenao/GT