Ninja Warrior-Style Obstacle Racing Joins Modern Pentathlon for LA28

Obstacle racing will officially replace the equestrian discipline at the Olympic Summer Games

Posted On: May 28, 2026 By : Paul Stevens

Obstacle racing will officially be a new Modern Pentathlon discipline at the LA28 Olympic Summer Games.

It comes after an agreement was reached between Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS for short, the Japanese company that created Ninja Warrior) and the Union Internationale de Pentathlon (UIPM) to collaborate on the SASUKE/Ninja Warrior discipline within the Modern Pentathlon program.

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As the international federation and world governing body for the multisport event, UIPM’s purpose is to set the rules, regulations and formats for Modern Pentathlon events, modernize the sport with new test events, and expand participation globally across all ages and athletes.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) previously voted unanimously in 2023 to update the Modern Pentathlon with Obstacle racing at LA28, and the UIPM replaced equestrian with the new discipline at all levels after the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games.

This week’s announcement effectively rubber-stamps Obstacle Racing’s inclusion in the Modern Pentathlon program, and by extension, Modern Pentathlon’s Olympic future, in the LA28 Games.

UIPM, which held its first Obstacle World Championships in Beijing in 2025, has licensed the right to use certain SASUKE/Ninja Warrior intellectual property and program elements, such as the design of certain obstacles, from TBS for Obstacle racing. The agreement between UIPM and TBS is also meant to establish a framework for both parties to proactively collaborate on and globally cross-promote SASUKE/Ninja Warrior and Modern Pentathlon in the lead-up to the Olympic Games.

Modern Pentathlon History

Modern Pentathlon was first introduced at the fifth Olympiad in 1912 in Stockholm, Sweden, having been founded by the creator of the modern Olympic Games, Pierre de Coubertin, as a nod to the Pentathlon from the Games in Ancient Greece.

At the time, the five Pentathlon disciplines were fencing, swimming, equestrian show jumping, running and pistol shooting, although the latter two were combined in 2010 to create Laser Run, which debuted in the 1st Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

Formerly a male-only event, the women’s Modern Pentathlon category was first included in the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, in 2000.

Meanwhile, TBS is the producer of the globally successful television format SASUKE, internationally known as Ninja Warrior. Since its first broadcast on TBS in 1997, the program has aired in more than 160 countries and regions, with local versions produced in over 25 countries. Its U.S. version will premiere its 18th season on June 8.

The Japanese company began working with UIPM in 2022, collaborating on several test events based on SASUKE/Ninja Warrior and other Obstacle Sports elements that led to the development of UIPM’s Obstacle Racing discipline.

Evolution

Obstacle racing will debut at LA28 with a head-to-head race over a Ninja Warrior-style sprint course. It will fit into a 90-minute sequence that also includes Fencing, Swimming and Laser Run — a combination of laser pistol shooting and running — taking place at one single venue.

Pentathletes will accumulate points in Fencing, Obstacle Racing and Swimming — their first three events — to determine their starting position for the Laser Run. With staggered timings corresponding to the number of points between the pentathletes and the leader, the winner is the first to cross the finish line.

The new format has been created to provide spectators with a more dynamic and thrilling viewer experience, both in the arena itself and from wherever they are watching it.

Obstacle is also a standalone UIPM sport, with variations including Obstacle course racing (OCR). This is the format for the UIPM Obstacle World Championships, which have taken place annually in Beijing since 2025, showcasing demanding courses that feature speed sprints, endurance obstacles, technical rigs and a 100m race.

Looking Ahead

“What an incredible honor it is for our Federation to be working closely with TBS, the broadcaster that gave Ninja Warrior to the world,” said Rob Stull, president of UIPM, the only recognized body of Obstacle sport in the Olympic movement. “It is 30 years since TBS turned obstacle racing into a television phenomenon with the original SASUKE, so our two organizations are a great fit in terms of heritage and innovation.

“Modern Pentathlon has held a continuous place in the Olympic Games for over a century, constantly evolving over the decades to satisfy the viewing preferences of sports fans around the world. Ahead of LA28, this agreement represents a wonderful and unique coming together of primetime entertainment and Olympic sports culture.”

“Since its launch 30 years ago, SASUKE/Ninja Warrior has continued to evolve constantly,” said TBS Holdings Executive Officer Katsuaki Setoguchi. “It is a tremendous honor that our journey has converged in this way with the history of the Modern Pentathlon — a sport beloved around the world which has continued to innovate for more than 100 years — culminating in its establishment as an Olympic sport.

“This is truly a groundbreaking milestone. Going forward, TBS and UIPM will work even more closely together to ensure that, on the world’s greatest stage — the Olympic Games — both SASUKE/Ninja Warrior and the new Modern Pentathlon continue to grow as sports and entertainment beloved by people all around the world.”

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