It’s striking how the concept of the ‘UNEXPECTED’ mirrors the very essence of modern pentathlon: a mosaic of demanding events, certainly, but above all a collage of disciplines filled with unknowns and variables, with scenarios that are constantly shifting. Especially in its contemporary era, where change is unfolding not only at the level of performance, but also structurally, as evidenced, for instance, by the removal of the equestrian event in favor of obstacle racing.

After securing a historic bronze in Paris, Giorgio Malan continues his ongoing process of refining every component of this multifaceted discipline. At the same time, he has experienced another dimension of the unexpected: the one shaped by adidas during an evening that fused fashion and sport, leading Malan himself to walk alongside renowned Italian icons such as Alex Del Piero and Mahmood, all united under the Three Stripes.

Through the perspective of the Turin-born athlete, class of 2000, we set out to narrate this convergence of codes and languages, gathering his reflections just minutes after an atypical performance, this time on the runway, and placing his sporting imagination in dialogue with the cultural spirit surrounding him.

Let’s begin with the title of this event: ‘Unexpected.’ Your sport, so multidimensional by nature, is inevitably linked to the idea of the unexpected: to the uncertainties that define every discipline within modern pentathlon. What does the unexpected represent for Giorgio Malan?

“I think the concept of ‘Unexpected’ really reflects what happens in competition. You can prepare 100%, try to take care of every single detail so that nothing unexpected happens… But in the end, it always does. Honestly, that’s also what makes race day special. You can control a lot of things, but not everything. Some things will inevitably be unexpected. It all depends on how you handle them. Often they’re difficulties, critical moments you have to overcome. And you have to manage them. Even today, at this event, everything feels quite new and therefore unexpected for me, but I’m enjoying it. That’s what I try to do in life and especially in competition: the moment when you feel that sense of the unknown most strongly, when you don’t really know where things will go, even if you’ve prepared as much as possible… That mix of factors is also what gives you the most adrenaline. It’s what makes race day so special. To manage the unknown, experience is fundamental. When I was younger, I struggled a lot with that. Over time, I understood that all that pressure is actually a privilege. If you’re there, feeling those emotions, it’s because you’re doing something important, something meaningful. It’s not easy, but even now I try to enjoy that whirlwind of emotions instead of being overwhelmed by it. And when you really feel like you’re managing it fully, it’s honestly amazing.”

Continuing along this line of thought, how did you handle the historic evolution of modern pentathlon, particularly the removal of the equestrian show jumping from the format? As an athlete who has grown by cultivating specific disciplines, how do you reconstruct your sporting mosaic when one of those disciplines is fundamentally changed?

“Speaking of the unexpected, that was pretty unexpected. In my opinion, equestrian added an extra touch of elegance to our sport. At the Paris Games I won that specific event, so the decision felt like a bit of a blow to the heart. Unexpected and not very welcome, at least at the beginning. But after the beautiful bronze in 2024, it also became a way to challenge myself again: new motivations, new situations to approach and try to give my best in. I tried to see the positive side: to avoid staying in monotony. That’s how I tried to live it. Recently there have been other changes too: they added an extra shooting series and shortened the swimming event. In those cases as well, I’m trying to treat every change as an opportunity, with the ultimate goal of expressing myself even better under these new rules.”

Tonight, ‘Unexpected’ also reflects the fact that, thanks to adidas, you find yourself in a context completely different from, yet somehow aligned with, your sporting world. How do you experience this kind of exposure, and what does it mean to be connected to a brand that views sport as a cultural dimension extending far beyond individual performance?

“In two words: amazing stuff. We’ve already done some rehearsals; I’m not a model, but walking is something new and exciting. I’m really enjoying it. And what can I say about a brand like adidas, capable of organizing events like this? Being part of it is a privilege and an honor, so I’m very happy. I’m not a huge fashion enthusiast, but I’ve come into contact with it before. Never as a model, but I’ve attended shows, and it’s always very beautiful. I think that when you reach the highest level, you notice that extra something in every field. Just like in sport, the same applies to models, designers, creatives… Tonight is definitely one of those occasions.”

You once spoke about your almost ascetic lifestyle, training six days a week, with sessions divided across the different disciplines. What kind of person has that life shaped you into? And how are you managing the balance between the disciplines that feel most naturally yours and those where you sense further refinement is needed?

​​“Pentathlon is like a short blanket: the week has seven days, the day has 24 hours, so you have to manage everything perfectly. I really like that, and over the years I’ve learned to make it more and more my own. It’s not easy, but it’s very satisfying. To give a concrete example, today I was supposed to train the whole day, but I had to shorten it. Then I thought: if you can fit everything in, why shorten it? With five disciplines, it works like that: you have to insert, combine, build this daily puzzle. Of course it’s not always easy. But when you reach the end of the day after practicing different sports, and maybe doing it well, it’s very satisfying. I hope this helps me in life too. Actually, it already has. It has helped me grow as a person, and I hope it will continue to help me outside of sport as well. I’m very demanding with myself, and in sport I can express that side of me at its best. Recently, the introduction of a new discipline has inevitably taken a big part of my focus. As I said before, I’ve challenged myself again. I’ve changed my priorities and my weekly planning. And in the end, that’s also a good way not to fall into monotony. I always try to see the positive side of things.”

Tonight we’re surrounded by multidimensional Italian icons like Alex Del Piero and Mahmood, and you’ll perform on their same stage. After your bronze in Paris, you’ve also become a reference point for your discipline in Italy. How do you experience that kind of recognition?

“When I think back to that moment, to that Olympics, two words always come to mind: how amazing. I enjoyed it from beginning to end. The most beautiful part was people’s reactions. So many friends cheered for me and contacted me, even people I hadn’t seen in years. For example, a classmate from elementary school sent me a video of himself going crazy in front of the TV as I crossed the finish line. Those intense emotions I experienced firsthand, and shared, are the most beautiful part. When I think about it, they almost feel too big. Italy hadn’t had an Olympic medal in so many years in pentathlon… Despite all that, I’m still the same person, with my life and my goals. And my main goal is always to improve myself. Of course, when I look at everything in retrospect, it seems immense. Then I shift perspective, focus on my own path, and everything feels normal again.”

We first spoke at the beginning of your international journey, a path that later led you to an epic bronze medal at the Palace of Versailles, in front of 15,000 spectators, and to reaching the top of the world rankings for several months last year. Today, at just 26, yet with so many experiences and emotions behind you, what kind of pentathlete do you feel you are? And how are you approaching the road toward your declared goal of LA28?

“I live constantly seeking improvement. My desire is to be better than the day before. Clearly my long-term goal is Los Angeles. Why not try to relive the emotions of Paris, in another unique setting like LA? Now there’s this big challenge of change: the cards have been reshuffled. The more ‘mature’ athletes stopped, because starting again was harder for those who had practiced the same discipline for decades. The younger ones are at an advantage because they grew up in this new format of the sport. And there are many talents emerging quickly. It’s all difficult, but I like the challenge. I’m aiming for LA with the desire to enjoy it. I’m not thinking about the result: I’m thinking that I’ll give everything, as always.”