Choong takes gold to seal Olympic spot

Britain’s Joe Choong won gold at the modern pentathlon World Cup final in Tokyo to continue his remarkable medal-filled season.

A strong fence and second place in the swimming, just behind British team-mate and world champion Jamie Cooke, left Choong in second place overall after the first two events, a position he retained despite rolling two poles in the show jumping.

He then chased down race leader Marvin Dogue, of Germany, in the Laser Run, the final stage of the competition, overhauling him in a thrilling sprint finish around 200metres from the line.

The victory, his first gold medal at this level, also secured him qualification for the Olympic modern pentathlon event, which will be staged at the same venue in 2020. Choong, who trains at the Pentathlon GB headquarters at the University of Bath, is now among the favourites for an Olympic medal. Cooke finished 11th with Tom Toolis 14th.

“In the early phases I was just trying to stay in contention until the last lap where I’ve backed myself all season and did it again here,” Choong said. “To get over the line and claim my first senior gold medal, as well as an Olympic spot, is an absolutely amazing feeling.”

The final was the fifth round of the World Cup series, after stages in Egypt, Bulgaria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. It doubled as an Olympic qualifying event as well as the first official test event for next year’s Games – with the winners of the men’s and women’s finals directly qualifying for Tokyo 2020.

In the women’s final, Kate French finished eighth, Jess Varley 27th and Francesca Summers 34th.