Olympics 2008

The modern pentathlon is huge in Hungary. So huge in fact that up to 50,000 paying spectators are expected to watch the World Championships when they are held in the country in May.

And no wonder the Magyars love the sport - nine gold medals, and 21 in total, have been won since the sport debuted at the Olympics 96 years ago.

But it was Sweden who dominated that first event on home soil in 1912.

Gösta Lilliehöök (pictured above left) struck gold in Stockholm and led a clean sweep of the medals by the host nation, while three of the next four competitors were also Swedish.

In fact Sweden won eight of the first nine Olympic competitions and claimed 13 of the 15 medals on offer.

The event, which contains five disciplines - epee fencing, pistol shooting, 200m freestyle swimming, show jumping and 3km cross-country run - was created especially for the Olympics by the founder of the modern Games, Pierre de Coubertin.

Britain's Stephanie Cook and Kate Allenby (pictured above right) won gold and bronze respectively at the Sydney 2000 Games in the inaugural individual Olympic event for women.

Britain's women are in the hunt for medals in Beijing . How successful do you think they will be?