On to Beijing : Fayetteville 16-year-old Isaksen qualifies for 2008 U.S. Olympic team in modern pentathlon
Posted on Wednesday, June 4, 2008
She has not been officially nominated to the U. S. Olympic team yet, but 16-year-old Fayetteville native Margaux Isaksen will represent her country in the modern pentathlon at the 2008 Olympics at Beijing, the Northwest Arkansas Times confirmed Tuesday.
By virtue of being the secondranked American in the Modern Pentathlon World Cup Standings, Isaksen will join 39-year-old Sheila Taormina in representing the U. S. in the event on Aug. 21 and 22. Michelle Kelly also qualified for the Olympics with points, but only two competitors are allowed from each country.
“ The nomination is not official yet, ” said Cecil Bleiker, United States Olympic Committee NGB Services Manager. “ But Margaux is going to the Olympics. ”
Isaksen and her coach Janusz Peciak, a 1976 Olympic gold medalist in the event for Poland, were in transit back to Colorado Springs, Colo., Tuesday from the World Championships in Budapest and were unable to be contacted by phone.
However, Isaksen’s mother Kathleen West was thrilled to spread the news about her daughter’s accomplishments.
“ She’s really worked hard and I’m so proud, ” West said.
Isaksen rise on the modern pentathlon world scene has been meteoric, according to Bleiker. A year ago, her goal was to make the 2012 Olympics, but strong finishes in World Cup competitions since February vaulted her into the World Top 10 and allowed her to achieve her goal four years early.
“ She only came to the Olympic Training Center full time last September, ” Bleiker said. “ But she made great strides. It’s really a phenomenal achievement.
“ When she came here in September, she said she would do her best to make the 2012 team, but look where she is now. She’s a very mature and disciplined 16-year-old. ”
Bleiker said modern pentathlon is a sport that few athletes begin training for in their teens.
In the sport an athlete competes in pistol shooting, epee fencing, equestrian show jumping, swimming (200 meters ) and cross-country running (3, 200 meters ).
“ Athletes generally come from another sport like swimming or running to modern pentathlon, ” Bleiker said.
Taormina won gold in 1996 as part of a swim relay and competed in the triathlon in 2000 and 2004 before taking up modern pentathlon a year later.
But fencing instructor Neal Picken introduced Isaksen to the sport three years ago.
“ You’ve got to be strong, you’ve got to have endurance, you’ve got to have focus and you’ve got to be a heck of an athlete, ” Picken, the founder of the Arkansas Fencing Academy, told the Times last year. “ This girl has it. ”
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
