Joanna Muir (born 30 August 1994)[1] is a British modern pentathlete, who was part of the British squad that won the team event at the 2019 European Modern Pentathlon Championships, and came second in the women's relay event at the 2016 World Modern Pentathlon Championships. She came second at the opening event of the 2021 Modern Pentathlon World Cup. Muir competed in the modern pentathlon event at the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.

Jo Muir
Personal information
Full nameJoanna Muir
Born (1994-08-30) 30 August 1994 (age 30)
Haugh of Urr, Scotland
Alma materUniversity of Bath
Years active2015–
Sport
SportModern pentathlon
University teamBath
Turned pro2015
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals2020
World finals2016
Regional finals2019
Medal record
Representing  Great Britain
Junior European Modern Pentathlon Championships
Silver medal – second place 2015 Sofia Women's relay
World Modern Pentathlon Championships
Silver medal – second place 2016 Moscow Women's relay
European Modern Pentathlon Championships
Gold medal – first place 2019 Bath Team
Gold medal – first place 2022 Székesfehérvár Team
Silver medal – second place 2022 Székesfehérvár Individual

Career

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Muir was formerly a runner.[2] She took up modern pentathlon at the age of 15, having also been involved in tetrathlon.[3] After finishing her studying, she chose to become a full-time athlete.[4] She trains at the University of Bath.[5]

In 2013, Muir made her debut in the Modern Pentathlon World Cup at an event in Palm Springs, California, US.[6] In 2015, Muir and Francesca Summers came second in the women's relay event at the Junior European Modern Pentathlon Championships.[7] In 2016, Muir and Samantha Murray finished second in the women's relay event at the 2016 World Modern Pentathlon Championships.[8] Later in the year, she finished fifth at the 2016 European Modern Pentathlon Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria. It was her first senior European Championship, and she was highest ranked British finisher.[9] Muir came 16th at the 2018 World Modern Pentathlon Championships.[10] The same year, she won a 5 miles (8.0 km) running road race in Gelston, Dumfries and Galloway.[11]

In January 2019, Muir won the Budapest Indoor International event.[4] In August 2019, Muir came fourth in the individual event at the 2019 European Modern Pentathlon Championships, and won the team event alongside Kate French and Francesca Summers.[12][13] In January 2020, Muir won the Budapest Indoor International event again.[5] In February, she won the opening event of the Modern Pentathlon World Cup in Cairo.[14]

In March 2021, Muir came second in the opening event of the season's Modern Pentathlon World Cup in Budapest, finishing behind fellow Briton Kate French.[15] She finished fourth in the second and third events of the World Cup,[16] and finished sixth in the competition's final in May 2021.[17] Muir was unable to compete in the 2021 World Modern Pentathlon Championships, as all British athletes were withdrawn from the event,[18] due to the UK Government's COVID-19 restrictions on travel to Egypt.[19] The World Championships were the last qualifying event prior to selection for the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.[20] In June 2021, Muir qualified for the modern pentathlon event at the 2020 Olympics based on her world ranking.[21] At the time of her qualification, she was ranked sixth in the world,[21] and she was the only Olympic debutant in the British pentathlon squad.[22] At the Games, Muir finished 14th;[23] she finished 33rd in the first fencing section, improved to 15th after the swimming event, before being demoted to 31st after the second fencing tournament. She was 21st after the equestrian event.[24]

At the 2022 European Modern Pentathlon Championships, Muir came second in the individual event and was part of the British team that won the event.[25]

Personal life

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Muir is from Haugh of Urr, Scotland.[17] She attended Castle Douglas High School.[26] and later studied Sports Performance at the University of Bath,[3] graduating in 2015.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Modern Pentathlon MUIR Joanna - Tokyo 2020 Olympics". olympics.com. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Jo Muir: I used to finish last when I ran, now I'm aiming to become an Olympic modern pentathlete". The Daily Telegraph. 10 August 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Joanna Muir". TeamBath. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Haugh of Urr pentathlete Jo Muir offers an insight into her bid to make the 2020 Tokyo Olympics". Daily Record. 15 March 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Muir clinches first World Cup Gold in Cairo". Team GB. 29 February 2020. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Modern Pentathlon: World Cup 1, GB women's battle through to the finals". ModernGhana. 23 February 2013. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Silver start to Junior European Championships for Pentathlon GB athletes". TeamBath. 27 May 2015. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Relay silver gets Pentathlon GB up and running at crucial World Championships". TeamBath. 23 May 2016. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Top-five finish for Joanna Muir as Pentathlon GB women win team silver at Euros". TeamBath. 10 July 2016. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Haugh of Urr's Jo Muir claims top 20 finish in World Modern Pentathlon Championships". Daily Record. 21 September 2018. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Gary Flannighan and Jo Muir win 2018 Gelston Road Race". Daily Record. 2 August 2018. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Haugh of Urr's Jo Muir helps Pentathlon GB claim team gold at European Championships". Daily Record. 15 August 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Pentathlon GB end up with huge medal haul at European Championships in Bath". Somerset Live. 12 August 2019. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Muir wins women's final at season-opening UIPM World Cup". Inside the Games. 28 February 2020. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  15. ^ "Modern Pentathlon: Kate French and Jo Muir complete World Cup one-two". BBC Sport. 26 March 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Modern Pentathlon World Cup: Francesca Summers secures silver after battle with Jo Muir". Sky Sports. 18 April 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Haugh of Urr pentathlete Jo Muir closing in on Olympic spot after sixth place in World Cup Final". Daily Record. 21 May 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Dumfries and Galloway athlete Jo Muir chosen to represent Team GB at Tokyo Olympics". Daily Record. 24 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Britain forced to pull out of UIPM World Championships by Government's addition of Egypt to travel red list". Inside the Games. 7 June 2021. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Haugh of Urr athlete Jo Muir forced to pull out of final qualifier for Tokyo Olympics". Daily Record. 10 May 2021. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Tokyo 2020: Kate French in Great Britain's modern pentathlon team". BBC Sport. 24 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Secrets of the Olympic horse-whisperers revealed as Scotland's Joanna Muir joins pentathlon team for Tokyo". The Scotsman. 24 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Modern Pentathlon Points". Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  24. ^ "Haugh of Urr's Jo Muir experiences "the biggest rollercoaster of emotions" in Olympic modern pentathlon". Daily Record. 12 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  25. ^ "2022 European Senior Championship". Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Haugh of Urr's Jo Muir set to fulfil childhood dream by taking part in Olympic Games". Daily Record. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
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