Modern pentathletes to watch in Rio

MODERN PENTATHLETES TO WATCH IN RIO:

AUSTRALIAN

MAX ESPOSITO - One of the youngest competitors in the Rio modern pentathlon competition, Esposito has spent large parts of the past year training overseas. The 19-year-old won gold at a junior tournament in Prague in June, and finished sixth at the Champion of Champions in Qatar in November. Not expected to challenge for a medal but will gain valuable experience.

CHLOE ESPOSITO - Secured Australia's best-ever women's Olympic result with a seventh in London, after missing out on a spot in Beijing. Esposito won silver at the Champion of Champions event in Qatar in November and finished in the top 10 in several other events in 2015. She's been training overseas working on her fencing.

INTERNATIONAL

DAVID SVOBODA (CZE) - With his poster-boy good looks, the London gold medallist has become a bit of a celebrity. However, injuries have cost him much of the past four years, and he had to work hard to qualify. The 31-year-old will hope to put all that behind him to get back among the medals in Rio.

JAMES COOKE (GBR) - The world No. 1 won gold at two 2015 World Cup events, after narrowly missing out on selection for London in 2012. He is the one to beat in Rio.

LAURA ASADAUSKAITE (LTU) - She broke an Olympic record for points scored in London to win her first gold. In 2009 Asadauskaite married Andrejus Zadneprovskis, who won bronze in the modern pentathlon for Lithuania in Beijing in 2008. Asadauskaite is ranked second in the world and a strong chance to defend her Olympic title.