Kate French MBE, Olympic gold medallist in Tokyo, has confirmed her retirement from modern pentathlon. The 33-year-old enjoyed a glittering career, with the high point her victory at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Her medal haul over the course of her career is impressive. She has 5 World Championships medals, including a team gold from Kaoshiung in 2013, and an incredible 6 golds and 3 silvers at European Championships.
That night in Tokyo, however, was the pinnacle, as she became the first GB woman since Steph Cook in 2000 to claim the Olympic title. Beginning the laser run in 5th place, French took the lead in the second running section and stormed away, securing the title by over 15 seconds from her nearest rival.
In the process, she also broke the Olympic record for most points in the event. She told the BBC at the time, “it’s always been a dream, and I can’t believe it’s come true.” She was awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours following her triumph.
After a sabbatical in 2023, French returned to the sport with the aim of qualifying for Paris 2024. She did just that, despite a gifted women’s performance squad and tough competition. At the Games, she was well-placed for another Olympic medal following the fencing ranking round and a strong Semi Final. Unfortunately, she was forced to pull out on the morning of the Final due to illness.
Jamie Cooke, Pentathlon GB Head of Performance, paid tribute to French’s impact on the sport. “I have been fortunate enough to have been alongside Kate throughout her career, joining the British Pathway Programme together in 2007. One of the best parts about any sports are the people you meet, and the journeys you go on and our first competition in Gran Canaria seems a long time ago now but to have trained alongside Kate, watched her compete and shared two Olympics together has been an absolute pleasure. From a performance side Kate dominated the sport, and from a personal side she continues to inspire in the way she did it. I wish her the best of luck in the future”
Will Brown, CEO of Pentathlon GB, commented: “Kate steps away from her role as a Pentathlon GB athlete after a truly phenomenal career which saw her win at the highest possible levels in the sport. She is a role model and a leader to her fellow athletes and those around her and we know that she will continue to inspire current and future generations.”
From everyone at Pentathlon GB, thank you to Kate for the memories and the role she played in pushing our sport forward. We wish you all the best for the future.
