Phenomenal fencing provides foundations for dominant pentathlon performance as Kerenza Bryson wins World Cup gold in Ankara
Pentathlon GB’s Kerenza Bryson built on her best-ever fencing performance to claim the second UIPM World Cup gold of her career with a stunning performance in Ankara, Turkey.
The University of Bath-based pentathlete, who had won bronze in the opening World Cup of the Paris 2024 Olympic season, was in magnificent form in the fencing ranking round as she won 27 of her 35 bouts.
That meant she started the women’s final with a 20-point advantage over the field and she maintained that with an outstanding ride, using all her equestrian skills to control a nervous horse and complete the course without picking up any penalties.
Her rivals were able to close the gap slightly in the swimming but Bryson underlined her dominance in the laser-run, eventually crossing the line 26 seconds clear of silver-medallist Seungmin Seong of South Korea.
“I am on a run at the moment and I feel like it’s just positive vibes all round,” said Bryson. “It couldn’t really be going any better, to be honest, and I was really happy to start the laser-run in first because that’s not comfortable for me. I’m not used to starting in first and I was definitely not in my safe space, so it was really good practice to deal with that pressure.
“I’ve just got to stay confident in myself and trust in the process, my coaches and the programme. If I can keep going and trusting in myself it will keep going in the right direction for the Games.”
The men’s final, which was delayed by bad weather, saw University of Bath graduate Myles Pillage produce a good ride in tough conditions – only knocking down one fence – and then become the only athlete to go under two minutes in the swimming pool as he finished ninth overall.
Sports Management and Coaching student Charlie Brown was one of four athletes who were eliminated in the riding round, meaning he had to settle for 17th place overall.
The action now moves to Budapest, Hungary where Pentathlon GB will contest World Cup 3 from 23-28 April.
Follow Bath-based athletes on their journey to Paris 2024 at teambath.com/Paris-2024.