A MINDARIE teenager demonstrated her diverse skills by winning the U15 Modern Pentathlon State Championships recently.
Olivia Crossen (13) competed in running, laser-pistol shooting, swimming, horse-riding and fencing at the November competition.
Having started learning to fence in May, Olivia was surprised to find she had achieved the highest total score of all pentathletes in any age group.
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READ NOWShe joined Wanneroo Horse and Pony Club this year and was encouraged to try tetrathlon, where she came second at the State championships in March and won the nationals qualifier.
She was then selected to represent WA at nationals in October, achieving a bronze medal.
The Quinns-Mindarie Surf Life Saving Club member said the beach sport helped her fitness and experience of competition at state level.
She also attributed her success to the riding coaching provided by Rick Dabner and Eve Jarvis at Equistar in Mariginiup.
Olivia encouraged more people to join Pony Club WA to access tetrathlons which she said were “great fun” and to join Modern Pentathlon Australia WA.
“There’s so many combinations you can do – you don’t have to do all five sports,” she said.
“It’s good for people like me who aren’t the best at any one sport but ok at a few sports.
“It’s amazing how the points add up across the events and you can end up winning the whole thing.”
Olivia is now training with the Youth Olympic Games squad for the 2022 games in Dakar, Senegal, where only one place will be available for 14-16-year-old pentathletes across Australia and New Zealand.