It takes a certain kind of athlete to perform across 5 sporting disciplines to compete in 1 sport...

Fence | Swim | Obstacle | Run | Shoot

-- I AM THAT KIND OF ATHLETE --

Hi. My name is Oli Clapham and I am a 17 year old Modern Pentathlete from Victoria. 

In 2026, after training 12 months in the sport with my incredible coaches (Anula Costa - Running, Adam Beckworth - Swimming, Leo Lee/Dary McClelland - Fencing, Mohamed Alaa - Shooting, and Geelong Ninjas - Obstacle), I have been selected to represent Australia in South Africa, Egypt, Lithuania, Madrid and China.

My love for speed, precision and pushing myself to the limit was planted when I swung from my first obstacle at 9 years old.

A keen Ninja Warrior from that moment, I have worked hard to build both mental and physical strength, endurance, connection, resilience, character, work ethic and athleticism over the last 8 years.

Behind the accolades, acknowledgements, selections and awards, is a young man who shows up to put in the time and effort where it counts - TRAINING. 

Since April 2025 I have put my mind and energy into developing competitive skills across all 5 Modern Pentathlon disciplines, 4 of which I had never had any formal training in:

• Obstacle (ninja)
• Swimming
• Fencing
• Running
• Shooting

It's this commitment to training, along with sacrifice and testing, that is forming me into the best sporting version of myself, the 'most complete athlete' - a Modern Pentathlete.

After the 2024 Paris Olympics, Modern Pentathlon made 1 major change, they swapped horse riding for ninja warrior style obstacle racing... That was the exact moment the cover on my Modern Pentathlon story opened.

July 2024 LA - I had never heard of Modern Pentathlon. My whole sporting world revolved around Ninja Warrior. My dream, fuelled by years of whispers, was that one day Ninja Warrior would make it to the Olympic Stage - and that I would be there to be part of it.

It was at my first international Ninja Warrior event in LA 2024 that I heard Ninja Warrior's moment had arrived - it would make its Olympic debut, as part of the Modern Pentathlon. 

Every fibre in my body lit up. There was only 1 obstacle in my way, well, actually there was 4: fencing (never done), swimming (never done), shooting (never done), running (at school/footy). 

In February 2025, I entered my first Modern Pentathlon event.

I had never swam 200m (I hated swimming and avoided it since childhood).

I had never held an epee (fencing blade).

I had shot a laser a couple dozen times.

I had ran for school and footy.

I had only 1 discipline to back me up at my first event - Ninja Warrior.

It took me OVER 5 PAINFUL MINUTES TO SWIM that first 200 metres - but I DID IT. 

That swim set me back massively for that event, resulting in a 90 second handicap for my run. Yet, it gave me something that I needed if I was ever going to make the change - the fire of determination and discipline.

At that event I decided that I am going to do this - I am going to be a Modern Pentathlete.

It was hard to get coaches, especially for swimming (we quickly discovered that no one wants to work with a 16 year old who can't swim).

It was mid April 2025 by the time I had secured fencing, swimming and running coaches and started training those 3 disciplines. Meanwhile, I shot at home with a borrowed laser pistol.

Two weeks later I won my first National Championship Title in April 2025, propelling me on to the world stage to compete in the 2025 UIPM Triathle-Biathle Laser Run World Championships in Mossel Bay, South Africa (December 2025).

It was there I secured 8th place in the Laser Run World Championship, and also came home with 2 silver and 2 bronze team medals.

I went on to win my second National Championship Title at the end of February 2026, qualifying me for all Category A World Cup events in 2026 and securing my place in the UIPM World Cup in Cairo, Egypt April 2026 where I scored the highest points of any Australian male.

Up next is Lithuania for the Junior World Championships in July, which I will back up with the UIPM World Pentathlon Championships in China in August, followed closely by the UIPM OCR World Championships in China.

Please join me on this journey as I train hard and compete in many high profile competitions across Australia and the World hoping to secure my spot representing Australia at the LA28 Olympics.

Every word of encouragement you share is inspiration that will help fuel the fire within me to go harder, go further, go higher.

Every donation you make is an investment in an athlete with heart who believes God has given him what it takes to give it everything it takes.

No Australian Male has EVER won gold in a Senior Modern Pentathlon Championship or in an Olympic Games..

The pathway to LA28 is paved with hard work, sacrifice, endurance and commitment for every athlete. Yet, it takes a certain kind of athlete to show up 100% in 5 disciplines to represent Australia in 1 sport...

I AM THAT KIND OF ATHLETE

Oli. :)