Student Murray up to third in world rankings
The silver medal achieved by University of Bath French and Politics student Samantha Murray saw her climb to number three in the modern pentathlon world rankings.
Murray won Britain’s last medal of the London 2012 Olympics and Britain’s 65th medal of the Games. Her silver was the fifth Olympic medal won by a British pentathlete since the sport for women made its Olympic debut at Sydney 2000.
Her performance at London 2012 saw Murray climb from a then career high seventh in the world rankings before the Olympics to third place. It’s a particularly impressive performance from an athlete who was ranked 78th in the world in February.
The rankings are compiled by the sport’s international federation, the UIPM (Union International de Pentathlon Moderne), and are based on athletes’ top three performances over the last year. Murray’s scoring performances were her silver at the Games, her bronze at the World Championships in Rome in May and a World Cup bronze in Russia in April
Mhairi Spence, Britain’s reigning World Champion and 21st at London 2012, also features in the top-five in fourth place, while Beijing 2008 Olympic silver medallist Heather Fell is currently ranked 13th. Great Britain has five women in the top-40, with Katy Burke at 31 and Freyja Prentice at 33.
Nick Woodbridge is the highest placed of the GB men in the world rankings at 10th place. He came 10th at the London 2012, his second Olympic Games. Sam Weale, who came 13th at London 2012 is 18th in the men’s world rankings.
Penthatlon GB’s high performance centre is based at the University of Bath.
