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BEIJING (AP)-Andrey Moiseev of Russia won the men's Olympic modern pentathlon Thursday, outlasting a pair of Lithuanians to become the event's first back-to-back winner since 1956.
"I knew I performed very well, but I did not think I would get the gold medal before these Olympics started," Moiseev said.
He is the first modern pentathlete to repeat as Olympic champion since Lars Hall of Sweden in 1952 and 1956.
Moiseev led after the first four disciplines-shooting, fencing, swimming and equestrian-allowing him to start the 3,000-meter run 13 seconds ahead of the field.
Moiseev won by 21 seconds. Edvinas Krungolcas won the silver, and Andrejus Zadneprovskis took the bronze.
China, Belarus and Germany led the shooting leg of the men's pentathlon.
David Svoboda of the Czech Republic and Amro El Geziry of Egypt set Olympic modern pentathlon records in shooting and swimming. Svoboda earned 191 of a possible 200 points in the 10-meter air pistol, and El Geziry completed the 200-meter freestyle in 1 minute, 55.86 seconds.
They both dropped out of contention because of poor horse rides.
Moiseev's top discipline was epee fencing. He won 26 of 35 bouts.
He had the 15th-best horse ride -- not great but good enough to keep him in contention.
"I've never been in any way sort of deterred by riding," Moiseev said. "I'm not afraid of horses, that's for sure."
The evolution of modern pentathlon Modern pentathlon has gone through a number of changes since its debut at the 1912 Olympics but could be in line for the most radical adjustments yet as Pierre de Coubertin's ultimate test of the "complete athlete" reconfigures itself for a new generation.
