Paris 2024 Olympic Games: why pentathlete Annika Zillekens competed in her final with a Navigo card as an eye patch ?

Annika Zillekens a disputé sa finale avec une carte Navigo sur l’œil gauche. dpa – Rolf Vennenbernd

German Annika Zillekens competed in the laser run event with a Navigo card as an eye patch this Sunday, August 11, at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

You may have noticed it during the modern pentathlon final, but Annika Zillekens competed in the laser run event with a Navigo card over her left eye.

The laser run is the last event in the modern pentathlon. It consists of a three-kilometre race, during which athletes must shoot with a laser gun at a target located 10 metres away.

Eliminated in the semi-finals, Annika Zillekens was finally selected for the final after the withdrawal of the British Kate French.

She had lent hers

Problem: she had lent her eye patch to her compatriot, the pentathlete Marvin Dogue: “I lent Marvin Dogue my eye patch aim for the shot, he had already used mine in the semi-finals. […] That's why we couldn't find him this morning in the panic,” Zillekens commented.

So, to remedy this, she used her coach's Navigo card to play in the final.