Identifying Essential Physical Fitness Factors in Modern Pentathlon Following the Introduction of the Obstacle Event: A Delphi Study Focused on Postural Stability

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to identify essential physical fitness factors required in modern pentathlon following the official introduction of the obstacle event by the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) in 2025, using an expert consensus approach. The study specifically examined whether postural stability emerges as a key fitness determinant in obstacle event performance.METHODS A two-round Delphi survey was conducted. In Round 1, 39 modern pentathlon experts (national team head coaches, coaches, athletes, and academic researchers) evaluated the importance of ten fitness factors for the overall sport and specifically for the obstacle event, and the necessity of region-specific muscle strengthening. In Round 2, 24 panel members assessed content validity of three training program types. Consensus criteria were set at mean ≥ 4.0, median ≥ 4.0, and IQR ≤ 1.0.RESULTS For overall modern pentathlon, all ten fitness factors reached consensus, with cardiorespiratory endurance ranked highest (5.00 ± 0.00). For the obstacle event specifically, cardiorespiratory endurance was the only factor to fail consensus (3.86 ± 0.89, IQR = 2.0). Postural stability advanced from 9th (4.36 ± 0.76) to 5th rank (4.69 ± 0.46), and shoulder (4.86 ± 0.42) and wrist (4.77 ± 0.49) achieved full consensus (IQR = 0.0) for body region strengthening. In Round 2, circuit training (4.75 ± 0.84) and obstacle-specific training (4.66 ± 0.47) received the highest validity ratings.CONCLUSIONS The introduction of the obstacle event is shifting modern pentathlon’s fitness paradigm from a cardiorespiratory endurance-centered model to an integrated model emphasizing postural stability, agility, and upper-body strength. Future training design should integrate postural stability and functional core stability as central components.