pen·tath·lon / penˈta[unvoicedth](ə)ˌlän/ • n. an athletic event comprising five different events for each competitor, in particular (alsomodern pentathlon) a men's event involving fencing, shooting, swimming, riding, and cross-country running.DERIVATIVES: pen·tath·lete / -ˈta[unvoicedth]lēt/ n.

pentathlon Athletic competition that originated in ancient Greece and consisting of five events. The modern pentathlon is an Olympic sport for women, consisting of the 100m hurdles, shot put, high jump, long jump, and 200m.

pentathlon an athletic event comprising five different events for each competitor, in particular, in ancient Greece, leaping, running, discus-throwing, spear-throwing, and wrestling; now, (also modern pentathlon) an event involving fencing, shooting, swimming, riding, and cross-country running.

Pentathlon ★★½ 1994 (R)

East German Olympic athlete Eric Brogar (Lundgren) defects to the U.S. a year before the crash of the Berlin Wall, causing embarassed German authorities to seek revenge on him and his family. 101m/C VHS . Dolph Lundgren, David Soul, Roger E. Mosley, Renee Coleman; D: Bruce Malmuth.