Kate French

Kate French has established herself as an Olympic gold medalist in Modern Pentathlon, demonstrating consistent performance at national and international levels. After securing team gold medals at both the 2013 European Championships in Drzonków, Poland, and the World Championships in Kaoshiung, Taiwan, Kate French rapidly established herself as a prominent figure in modern pentathlon. These initial successes demonstrated her exceptional talent on the international stage, setting the foundation for a distinguished career that would see her train at the Pentathlon GB High Performance Centre at the University of Bath. French continued her ascent in the sport, earning two silver medals at the 2014 World Modern Pentathlon Championships in Warsaw, Poland, in both the women’s team and mixed relay events.

In 2021, she further distinguished herself by setting a new women’s world record in fencing. Following her Olympic triumph, French was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 New Year Honours, recognizing her significant contributions to modern pentathlon. After an eighteen-month hiatus, she returned to competition with aspirations for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Despite qualifying for the final, a sudden illness led to her withdrawal, resulting in a 19th-place finish.

On January 21, 2025, French announced her retirement from modern pentathlon, concluding a decorated career marked by numerous international medals and an Olympic gold.