Team USA Builds World Championship Experience in Guiyang Ahead of LA28 Qualification Cycle

GUIYANG, China — Team USA concluded the 2026 UIPM Pentathlon World Championships with six athletes competing in the individual qualification rounds and U.S. teams taking part in the Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Relays.

The World Championships, held August 24–30 at Huaxi Lake Park in Guiyang, featured 188 athletes — 112 men and 76 women — representing more than 70 countries, bringing together many of the world’s top modern pentathletes for the sport’s premier annual competition. For the United States, the championships provided another important opportunity to compete at the highest international level as the program looks toward 2027 and the beginning of the qualification period for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

While no U.S. athlete advanced from the individual qualification rounds to the semifinals, Team USA produced several standout performances across the disciplines and gained valuable experience that can be carried into a critical 2027 season.

Evans Leads U.S. Men in Qualification

Tyler Evans recorded the highest individual score among the American men, totaling 1,511 points to finish 20th in Qualification Group C. Evans' strongest result came in Swimming, where his 55.34-second performance ranked fourth in the group and earned 324 points. He also produced an 11:11.28 Laser Run, the 11th-best mark in the group, for 629 points.

Reigning U.S. National Champion Temirkhan Sabdenbek competed alongside Evans in Group C and finished 22nd with 1,488 points. Sabdenbek delivered one of Team USA's top Obstacle performances of the championships, completing the course in 24.25 seconds, good for sixth in the group and 373 points. He added a 56.90 swim and an 11:31.89 Laser Run.

Michael Arishita represented the United States in Qualification Group B, finishing 23rd with 1,454 points. Arishita scored 200 points in Fencing, completed Obstacle in 31.48 seconds and Swimming in 59.39 before closing his competition with an 11:41.80 Laser Run.

The combined performances placed the U.S. men 15th in the World Championships team standings with 4,453 points.

Voronina Posts Fastest Swim in Qualification Group

On the women’s side, Kseniya Voronina produced one of the strongest individual discipline performances of the championships for Team USA. Competing in Qualification Group A, Voronina recorded a 59.82-second swim, the fastest time in her entire qualification group, earning 301 points. She finished the day 30th with 1,312 total points after adding 200 in Fencing, 340 in Obstacle and 471 in Laser Run.

Rebecca Langrehr led the U.S. women in total points, scoring 1,313 to finish 29th in Qualification Group B. Langrehr's day was highlighted by an excellent Fencing performance, where she recorded 25 victories and 245 points to rank sixth in the group. She followed with 301 points in Obstacle, 283 in Swimming and 484 in Laser Run.

Ingrid Mayer also competed in Group B, placing 32nd with 1,188 points. Mayer totaled 190 points in Fencing, 286 in Obstacle, 250 in Swimming and 462 in Laser Run, gaining another full championship competition against one of the deepest women’s fields on the international calendar.

Together, Langrehr, Voronina and Mayer placed the United States 12th in the Women’s Team standings with 3,813 points.

Team USA Competes in All Three Relays

The United States opened its World Championships campaign with entries in both all three relays.

Arishita and Sabdenbek teamed up in the Men’s Relay, finishing 14th with 1,345 points in a field of 18 nations. The American pair's best discipline placement came in Obstacle, where their 53.09-second performance ranked ninth. They also recorded 208 points in Fencing, a 53.10 swim and a 14:04.65 Laser Run.

Langrehr and Voronina represented Team USA in the Women’s Relay. The pair opened with 216 points and 11 victories in Fencing before their competition ended with an elimination in the Obstacle discipline. They were unable to finish the rest of the disciplines, which led to a 14^th place finish.

The following day, Arishita returned alongside Mayer for the Mixed Relay. The U.S. duo placed 12th with 928 points, scoring 212 points in Fencing before recording a 58.51-second swim and a 14:52.80 Laser Run.

Experience to Carry Into 2027

The 2026 World Championships provided an important measuring point for a U.S. team that continues to build its international experience. From Voronina winning her qualification-group swim and Langrehr placing sixth in Fencing, to Evans' top-four swim and Sabdenbek's top-six Obstacle performance, the Americans showed the ability to produce competitive individual disciplines against world-class fields.

The next challenge will be putting those performances together consistently across the complete pentathlon.

That development takes on added importance in 2027 as athletes begin competing within the qualification period leading toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. With another year of international racing behind them, the six Americans leave Guiyang with a clearer understanding of the level required at the World Championships and another significant experience to build upon as Team USA begins its push toward LA28.