Australian Pentathlon Team Rises to the Challenge at the 2026 World Championships in Guiyang

Photo Credit: UIPM World Pentathlon

28 August 2026 | Guiyang, China

Modern Pentathlon Australia is proud of the resilience, determination and professionalism demonstrated by its athletes and coach at the 2026 Pentathlon World Championships in Guiyang, China.

Five Australian athletes took on the world’s best across the men’s and women’s individual qualifications, gaining valuable experience and producing a number of standout performances on the international stage.

The championships proved demanding, with high heat and humidity, periods of heavy rain and inclement weather creating delays, schedule changes and rescheduled events. Throughout the disruption, the Australian team continued to reset, refocus and prepare to compete whenever the opportunity arose.

Levi Tubailagi – Men’s Qualification B

At just 15 years of age, Levi Tubailagi is the youngest member of the Australian team and produced a determined performance in Men’s Qualification B, finishing 27th overall with 1305 points.

• Fencing: 3 victories – 140 points
• Obstacles: 24.81 – 371 points
• Swimming: 1:10.88 – 246 points
• Laser Run: 12:32.50 – 548 points

Levi’s obstacle performance was a highlight, with his 24.81-second effort contributing strongly to his overall result.

For the young Australian, competing against senior international athletes at a World Championships provides invaluable experience as he continues to develop and build his international career.

Kai Klisanin – Men’s Qualification A

Making his international debut, Kai Klisanin finished 35th in Men’s Qualification A with 1206 points.

• Fencing: 9 victories – 170 points
• Obstacles: 44.47 – 312 points
• Swimming: 1:07.35 – 264 points
• Laser Run: 14:00.00 – 460 points

Kai’s first international competition at this level provided a valuable opportunity to test himself against a world-class field and gain experience that will form an important part of his development moving forward.

Nicholas Odgers – Men’s Qualification C

Nicholas Odgers finished 31st overall with 1353 points in Men’s Qualification C, producing a solid all-round performance.

• Fencing: 13 victories – 185 points
• Obstacles: 35.20 – 340 points
• Swimming: 59.45 – 303 points
• Laser Run: 12:55.88 – 525 points

Nick’s performance adds further World Championship experience as he continues to compete against a strong international field.

Oliver Clapham – Men’s Qualification C

Oliver Clapham produced one of the standout performances of the Australian campaign, finishing 28th overall with 1399 points.

Oli’s performance in the Obstacle discipline was particularly impressive, recording 20.38 seconds — the second-fastest time across all three men’s qualification groups.

His time was just 0.45 seconds behind Egyptian world-record holder Mohamed El Ashqar, who recorded 19.53 seconds.

Oli’s results were:

• Fencing: 15 victories – 195 points
• Obstacles: 20.38 – 384 points
• Swimming: 1:07.45 – 263 points
• Laser Run: 12:23.66 – 557 points

The obstacle performance was a significant highlight for Australia and demonstrated Oli’s ability to compete at the highest level against the world’s leading athletes.

Photo Credit: UIPM World Pentathlon

Aleska Van Heekeren – Women’s Qualification B

Aleska Van Heekeren competed in Women’s Qualification B, finishing 34th overall with 1170 points in a highly competitive international field.

• Fencing: 8 victories – 160 points
• Obstacles: 51.42 – 291 points
• Swimming: 1:11.96 – 241 points
• Laser Run: 13:42.60 – 478 points

Aleska showed determination throughout a demanding women’s qualification and gained valuable experience competing on the World Championship stage.

Resilience Beyond the Results

While the results provide an important measure of performance, the Australian team’s ability to adapt to the conditions in Guiyang has been equally significant.

The combination of heat, humidity, rain delays and changes to the competition schedule meant athletes were repeatedly required to reset mentally, adjust their preparation and be ready to perform when called upon.

Throughout the championships, Coach Genevieve Van Rensburg provided guidance and support to the Australian athletes, helping them navigate the changing conditions and maintain their focus throughout a demanding competition program.

With a team featuring athletes making their international and World Championship debuts alongside more experienced competitors, the experience gained in Guiyang will provide an important foundation for the future.

Modern Pentathlon Australia congratulates Levi Tubailagi, Kai Klisanin, Nicholas Odgers, Oliver Clapham and Aleska Van Heekeren, along with Coach Genevieve Van Rensburg, on their efforts throughout the championships and for proudly representing Australia on the world stage.

“The ability of the team to adapt, refocus and keep moving forward through challenging conditions reflects the determination and resilience of Australian pentathlon.

With valuable international experience gained in Guiyang, the signs are encouraging for the future, with a talented group of athletes continuing to develop and strengthen Australia’s presence on the world stage.”

— Sue Gliddon, Chair of MPA

This team has shown that Australian pentathlon is ready to rise, compete and make its mark on the world stage for years to come.

Full event results can be found HERE

Photo credit Bri Clapham