MODERN PENTATHLON: Australian athlete Max Esposito has finished off the men’s individual modern pentathlon event with an inspiring performance in the run/shoot to come from behind in 21st place and finish 17th overall.
At the Youth Olympic Games athletes take part in a 200m swim followed by a fencing round and finish a long hard day off with a combined running and shooting event.
Starting with a 1.35 minute handicap Esposito, 17, pushed himself to the limit to jump five spots and cross the finish line 16th with the fourth fastest time of 12:11.50.
With a top ten finish in mind Esposito powered through the track and was coming 11th at one point but says his shooting slowed him up a little.
“I think I was just thinking too much and wasn’t focusing on the task at hand,” he said.
Despite not finishing with the result he had hoped for the New South Welshman was happy with his overall performance.
“In the combined I know I can catch some people because it is my strongest event so ... I was saying to myself just run as fast as you can and just try and overtake as many people as you can,” he said.
“I’m really, really, really tired but I am pleased with myself that I could gain a couple of places in the run/shoot so I am very happy...I am just happy to be here.”
Earlier in the day Esposito blew his swimming PB out of the water by three seconds, clocking a time of 2:04.84 and finishing eighth in the swim propelling him further up the leader’s board.
However in the fencing he was unable to win a bout which unfortunately pushed him back down to 21st place heading into the third and final leg of the event.
In the end Esposito finished the day with a combined total of 1100 points just one point behind equal 15th and 184 points behind gold medallist Aleksandr Lifanov. Gergely Regos from Hungary and Dovydas Vaivada from Lithuania came second and third respectively.
Nevertheless Esposito says he can take a lot away from the experience as he looks towards qualifications for Rio.
“I need to work on my fencing and focus on some new techniques that my coach and I will discuss... and with my shooting I need to practice focusing a little bit more,” he said.
“What I have learnt from the whole experience is that even though you are down in one sport you can always come back a couple of places so that’s good, like when I was down I tried to stay positive so I could make my way up which happened so I’m happy with that.”
“I’ve got my eyes on Rio which the qualifying is coming up soon. This experience has given me the confidence to want to to do more and push myself.”
But first a well earned rest is on the cards according to father and coach Daniel Esposito who says he is stoked with how his son performed throughout the competition and across the season.
“I am extremely proud as a coach and even prouder as a father,” he said.
“He tried his best, it is not as good as he normally goes but that’s pentathlon things get thrown in your face and you go up and down.”
The competition is not over just yet for Esposito and fellow Australian pentathlete Marina Carrier who are now turning their attention to the mixed teams event.
Based on their results from the individual events Esposito will be paired with Korea’s Juhye Choi who came in eighth place in the women’s event, while Carrier will team up with men’s silver medallist Gergely Regos from Hungary.
“I’m excited for the team event, I’m excited for my pairing and I am just really pumped,” young Esposito said.
The mixed teams will commence at 0900 (1100 AEST) on Tuesday with the mixed relay fencing event and will recommence at 1330 (1530 AEST) with the mixed relay swimming at the Olympic Sports Centre Natatorium in Nanjing.
Laura Judd
Olympics.com.au
@AUSOlympicTeam
