Breaking records - Sports - Al-Ahram Weekly
FOURTEEN-year-old sensation Farida Khalil of Egypt continued to redefine the modern pentathlon at the 2025 World Cup in Pazardzhik, Bulgaria, setting two new world records on the way to gold in the women's final.
Khalil was in irresistible form after winning gold and silver in the first two Pentathlon World Cups of the season, and she held off the challenge of Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Seungmin Seong of South Korea to cross the line 19sec ahead of her nearest rival.
A new obstacle world record of 27.70sec was key to her success and the posting of an overall world record of 1,485 points, nine more than Michelle Gulyas of Hungary managed two weeks ago in the Pentathlon World Cup in Budapest. And there was more good news for the Egyptian team as Malak Ismail claimed bronze and her first medal of 2025.
France finished with two athletes on the extended podium after an exceptional laser run by Rebecca Castaudi, with Emma Whitaker of Great Britain sandwiched between her and sixth-placed Louison Cazaly.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 15 May, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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