YOHKA obstacle racing rises in popularity with IOC including 100 metre short course concept in modern pentathlon

Australia-born fitness racing brand, YOHKA Sports, offers a variety of events including a 100 metre Short Course, a 5km Course, a 10km Course, and a thrilling Pursuit Course that tests participants’ agility, speed, and strategy in a custom-designed obstacle arena.

With obstacle course racing rising in popularity and controversy surrounding equestrian disciplines, The International Olympic Committee confirmed the inclusion of a 100-metre obstacle sprint as part of the modern pentathlon - replacing its equestrian show jumping component - at the 2028 LA Olympics and potentially Brisbane 2032.

Modern pentathlon, which has been an Olympic sport since 1912, is made up of five disciplines including fencing, freestyle swimming, pistol shooting, cross country running and equestrian show jumping.

At the time of the announcement, Fédération Internationale de Sports d’Obstacles (FISO) President, Ian Adamson enthused "we are thrilled to be collaborating with Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM), modern pentathlon's international governing body, on the new fifth discipline.

"Obstacles have a long history in pentathlon, including the modern and ancient Olympic Games, and introducing obstacle disciplines that are watched and practiced by hundreds of millions of people in over 140 countries presents many opportunities for athletes, spectators, and the global sports audience.”

While some media outlets have reported that YOHKA Sports has been named as the first Olympic fitness racing sport, it is the concept behind the brand’s 100 metre short course that the Olympics will use in the modern heptathlon.

The YOHKA brand consists of four disciplines - pursuit, stampede, classic and challenge - and the discipline most similar to the format adopted by modern pentathlon is stampede, which consists of head-to-head racing over a 100-metre course featuring 12 challenging obstacles - designed to test speed, agility, and power.

Monkey bars, rope swings, walls, hurdles, cargo nets, mud pits and even barbed wire are among the obstacles used in various worldwide competitions.

Former rugby league and rugby union player turned strength and conditioning coach Todd Liubinskas was announced as Chief Executive of YOHKA Sports in February 2025.

Known for co-founding The 440 Club, being fitness Director of Men’s Health Australia and working with the Wallabies, Rugby 7 and NZ Rugby League, Liubinskas’ appointment is aimed at driving YOHKA Sports toward a new era of growth and innovation.

Liubinskas’ mission at YOHKA Sports is to create transformative sporting experiences through fitness and obstacle racing with YOHKA events already running in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Fiji and the United States.

The first YOHKA Sprint Series event debuted at Melbourne's AusFitness Expo held from 29th to 30th March 2025 at the MCEC while YOHKA Royale was also held 29th to 30th March 2025 in Sydney at the Penrith Regatta Centre.

The sprint series in Melbourne at the AusFitness Expo consisted of fast-paced 100metre short course obstacle race, with each competitor aiming to better the world record of just under 30 seconds.

Liubinskas notes “YOHKA Sports has the exact 100 metre short course that the Olympics will use in the Modern heptathlon. Through our world class first to market events in 2025, we aim to find the next future Australian representative for the modern heptathlon. What better way to elevate the sport than by highlighting young athletes coming through in the Australian health and fitness and sporting community?

“The best thing about being part of an emerging brand is that it is something new to offer back to the health and fitness community. I get to be part of building the business from its inception, and what better way to do that than to train up future Olympians for the LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games through our 100metre obstacle course format, and introduce our fast paced tag event to Australia and the globe.

“This is probably the toughest 100 metres most people will ever do. It may not sound like much, but with 12 gruelling obstacles testing speed, agility, and power, many will be humbled."

Images top and centre. YOHKA in action. Credit:YOHKA; image below. YOHKA stand at Melbourne's AusFitness Expo. Credit: Nigel Benton