No horses for modern pentathlon. How about pillow fighting?

It was a scandal that led to show jumping being nixed from the modern pentathlon.

But the options being suggested by some, probably in disbelief that horses will no longer be part of it all, risk turning the whole issue into comedy.

Pillow-fighting - yes professional pillow-fighting (that’s a real thing in America) - as well as drone racing, came up on a discussion forum recently.

And Big Ginger and Roach, from 104.7 The Lizard, heard another interesting suggestion from a Kelowna caller.

The prestigious Olympic event has been around since 1912. It features athletes competing in fencing, swimming, pistol shooting, cross-country running, and show jumping.

The equine aspect is being dropped, in part, after a German coach was seen thumping a horse at the Tokyo Games in 2020.

The sport’s governing body, the International Modern Pentathlon Union (UIPM), said it was always going to look at modernizing the event anyway, but it seems the shake-up is being brought forward so the five-discipline offering can remain at future Olympic Games.

A committee has been set up to ponder what that replacement fifth sport should be, and options include things like mountain biking, roller skating, and hurdles running.

The whole point of modern pentathlon is to highlight the best all round athletes competing in five different disciplines in one day.

However, an Instagram post from the governing body had some people weighing in on whether the new event should be pillow-fighting or drone racing?

It has highlighted the apparent disbelief and cynicism some are now directing at the proud Olympic event.