Joe Choong may be a former Olympic gold medallist in fashionable pentathlon however like all different athletes within the sport, he’s a whole novice in the case of the brand new ‘Ninja Warrior’ fashion impediment racing just lately launched as a brand new self-discipline.
For the previous six weeks Choong, who received gold on the Tokyo 2020 Video games, has been attending to grips with the impediment assault course that has changed showjumping as one of many 5 occasions.
It options an 80m course which athletes should get by way of as shortly as attainable, filled with eight obstacles corresponding to monkey bars, excessive rings and a wall run.
“I used to be towards the change; if I may select I nonetheless would not select this however there’s nothing we will do,” Choong advised BBC Radio Somerset.
“I fought as arduous as I may to cease it – so did numerous different athletes – and now we’ve got to simply accept it or transfer on.”
Fencing, swimming, and a mixed operating and taking pictures occasion make up the 4 different disciplines that stay in fashionable pentathlon.
Choong was probably the most vocal athletes towards the overhaul to the game’s conventional format, introduced in after the equestrian component got here beneath highlight when a German coach was thrown out of the Tokyo Olympics for showing to punch a horse.
Nevertheless, after taking a break following the Paris Olympics – the place he completed ninth – the 29-year-old is again in Tub on the Crew GB fashionable pentathlon base, giving the impediment course a go.
“It simply relies upon what a part of your profession you are in, whether or not you are feeling it is a good time to maneuver on otherwise you give the brand new occasion a attempt,” Choong mentioned.
“It is positively one thing I’ll get caught in with and crack on with however I am unsure relishing is sort of the precise phrase.”
