Modern pentathlon is one of the sports under threat of losing its place on the Olympic programme when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board next next meet in Lausanne on February 12 and 13.

But Schormann warned removing his sport from the Games would be hugely detrimental to Coubertin, whose birth 150 years ago is currently being celebrated by the IOC.

"If you take modern pentathlon out of the Olympics, you destroy the legacy Baron Pierre de Coubertin," Schormann told insidethegames.

"That is how I see it.

"He was the man that invented for our sport for the Olympic Games."


Schormann claimed the UIPM are ignoring the rumours of being removed from the Olympic programme.

"It is not the IOC who is suggesting we are going to leave the Olympic Games," he said.

"It is just speculation in the media.

"I am not saying that this is not important.

"The IOC obviously reads these publications and it does have an influence to some degree.

"But not once has any IOC member said to me or anybody at modern pentathlon that we are doing things wrong and in danger of leaving the Games."

To read the full exclusive interview with Schormann click here.

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