MODERN PENTATHLON: Australian modern pentathlete Chloe Esposito has performed exceptionally at the Asia/Oceania Qualifier in Beijing to just miss the podium and secure the women’s Oceania spot for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
Esposito went agonisingly close to the podium moving from fifth to fourth in the final Combined (shooting/running) phase.
She is normally a very strong shooter but she was a little off today and her score of 1365 missed the podium by a mere two points.
“My shooting wasn’t the best, not what I normally do,” Esposito said. “The running I was really happy with. In the end I moved up one position and just missed that podium. But I’m happy I’m happy with that!”
The 23-year-old finished seventh on Olympic debut at the London Olympics and she will now be nominated to the Australian Olympic Team Selection Committee by Modern Pentathlon Australia later in the week for the Rio Games. If approved she will be the first official member of the 2016 Australian Olympic Team.
Esposito was all smiles at the realisation she had done enough for nomination to her second Olympic Team.
“It’s amazing. I’m glad I’ve done it. I came here today and did what I had to do and now I have 431 days to focus until the Olympic Games.”
Esposito was only 20 when she represented Australia at the London Olympic Games, where she placed 7th and ‘got a sniff’ for the Olympic podium.
Following two years of injuries this season has seen Esposito finish 7th and 6th at two World Cups. She was chasing the podium in China but it wasn’t to be today. She only had to complete the event and finish ahead of fellow Australian Marina Carrier to secure the Oceania spot..
Carrier, a member of the 2014 Youth Olympic Team, ended the day in 23rd place which was a strong performance for the 18-year-old and valuable senior competition experience. Carrier drew the same difficult horse as Esposito, and registered a DNS for the jumping component which cost her valuable points.
Esposito can now relax and prepare to cheer on her younger brother Max who will represent Australia in the men’s event on Tuesday. The 17-year-old who trains with his sister and father/coach Daniel in Budapest, Hungary will need to beat 2012 Olympian Ed Fernon to make it to Rio with his sister.
Fernon, 27, from Sydney has the experience behind with five years on the international circuit. But Max has the form this year. No Australian male had made a World Cup final before and now he has done it three times from three attempts.
Whoever wins the battle of the Aussies will fulfil their Olympic qualification. The competition will be fierce with the top five finishers from Asia also eligible for Rio 2016.
It will be another tense day for Daniel Esposito who coaches both Chloe and Max. Daniel was an Olympian at the 1984 Games and is guiding two outstanding yoiung athletes of what is a remarkable family story. Daniel, Chloe, Max and mother Suzanne left Sydney in 2013 to set-up base in Budapest to give them the best chance of success in Rio.
Speaking last week from their base in Hungary, Chloe was asked if the siblings ever talk about being on Olympic Team together.
“All the time Max and I talk about it. We want to be together at the Rio Games.”
Sydney 2000 Olympian and 2016 Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Kitty Chiller is cheering on the Australians in Beijing. Chiller attended the international federation congress on the weekend in her capacity as President of Modern Pentathlon Australia.
Andrew Reid
olympics.com.au
