Following success at the last four Olympic Games, which has seen Team GB secure five medals, including gold at Sydney 2000, the organisation is hoping to build on this en route to Rio 2016, and more likely, future Olympic Games.

The first academies to be given accreditation, following more than three years of preparations by Pentathlon GB are based in Millfield School, Wellington College, Plymouth College, Whitgift School, Rossall School and Bishop Burton College.

These newly announced academies join one already established at Hartpury College and form part of the network which includes the high performance centre at the University of Bath.

The academies will build on already established initiatives in schools and clubs.

Samantha Murray took silver at the London 2012 Olympic Games before adding gold at the World Championships in Warsaw earlier this year ©Getty Images



"The academies signal our resolve to build a strong and dynamic future for our sport and to create a pipeline of talent at all levels," said Jan Bartu, the performance director who has overseen GB's medal success at every Games since Sydney 2000.

"We are building a solid base for modern pentathlon around the country with resident qualified coaches in situ.

"What the Academies will help us do is set a high bar for modern pentathlon in the regions and those who aspire to develop to both compete and coach at the top end of our game will have the infrastructure and excellence to support and nurture them."

Apprentice coaches from Pentathlon GB's Coach Apprentice Programme will work at some of the new academies and it is hoped that further ones will be added to these seven in the future.

Team GB's modern pentathletes have impressed at the highest level for more than a decade now.

Stephanie Cook and Kate Allenby claimed Olympic gold and bronze respectively at Sydney 2000, Georgina Harland won bronze at Athens 2004 and Heather Fell and Samantha Murray silver at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 respectively. 

Murray also won the individual gold medal at the 2014 World Championships and silver in the team event alongside Freyja Prentice and Kate French.

French and Evans also took silver in the mixed relay event at this event in Warsaw.

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