On November 20 and 21, 2025, the TUM Campus in the Olympic Park of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) once again hosted the official squad qualification of the Bavarian State Association for Modern Pentathlon (BLMF). For several years, the event has been a central component of the cooperation between the Association and the Department Health and Sport Sciences, combining the promotion of young athletes with sports science research. A total of 30 athletes of all age groups, from U11 to adults, took part in the competition.
The squad qualification is closely integrated into the TUM's curriculum. As part of the seminar Applied Methods of Sports Science, students are given the opportunity to work on research-related issues directly in competitive sports. Under the scientific direction of Dr. Christine Hoffmann, Research Associate in the Applied Sports Science Unit and, since 2024, head of competitive sports at the BLMF, and Dr. Susanne Lipfert, also a Research Associate in the unit, the students carried out various measurements in three project groups. These included investigations into the relationship between core strength and shooting performance in laser run, analyses of lactate and heart rate development during recovery, and stability measurements during shooting at rest and under stress conditions.
The data collected supports the individual performance development of the athletes, who receive an evaluation sheet with training-related recommendations after the event. At the same time, the results are incorporated into scientific work. Based on the previous year's measurements, two publications were published, namely in the “Journal of Science in Sport and Exercise” and in the journal “Leistungssport”.
Michael Merten, full-time competitive sports consultant at the German Modern Pentathlon Association, was also on site to learn about the implementation and scientific support of the event. The athletic part of the qualification included swimming competitions at the Olympic Swimming Hall in Munich and laser run competitions on the grounds of the TUM Campus in the Olympic Park. “I am always impressed by how smoothly and professionally the event is organized,” emphasized Andreas Schmidt, member of the junior squad 1. “The cooperation with TUM is a real asset – especially when performance data is also collected. The modern facilities of the new TUM Campus in the Olympic Park offer optimal conditions for an official competition.”
With a view to the future development of the event, Dr. Hoffmann says: “We would have liked to have national squad athletes competing on site to raise the overall level a little. Unfortunately, however, the German Modern Pentathlon Association scheduled the German Championships for the U15 and U19 age groups on the same date at short notice, which is why two top athletes from Bavaria were unable to attend.”
The event is also of particular significance from the perspective of applied sports science. Dr. Peter Spitzenpfeil, head of the unit, emphasized during his visit to the site: "Formats like this are important for building a strong bridge between theory and practice. Here, our students have the opportunity to apply scientific methods in a real competition context and experience the relevance of their work firsthand. At the same time, the associations and athletes benefit from sound findings for training management.“
Dr. Hoffmann also emphasizes the high value for the practical training of students: ”For our students, it is impressive and an absolute highlight to be able to take measurements on top-class athletes in competition. Even though the event is an enormous effort every year, we will definitely continue the collaboration. "
The ongoing cooperation between the BLMF and TUM thus contributes to the scientifically sound development of young athletes in modern pentathlon and at the same time strengthens practice-oriented teaching in the Department Health and Sport Sciences.
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Contact:
Dr. Christine Hoffmann
Applied Sports Science
Am Olympiacampus 11
80809 München
phone: 089 289 24672
e-mail: christine.hoffmann(at)tum.de
Text: Romy Schwaiger
Photos: Dr. Christine Hoffmann & Dr. Susanne Lipfert