Kerenza Bryson

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Kerenza Bryson

| honorific_suffix = OLY

| image = 2023 m. pasaulio šiuolaikinės penkiakovės čempionatas 20230827 115610 Kerenza Bryson.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Kerenza Bryson in 2023

| birth_name =

| fullname =

| nationality =

| residence =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|9|07|df=y}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uipmworld.org/athlete/kerenza-bryson|title=Profile of Kerenza Bryson|publisher=uipmworld.org|access-date=2024-05-02}}

| birth_place = Plymouth, Devon, England{{cite web|url=https://www.teamgb.com/athlete/kerenza-bryson/6MCHJ2vYnx3ddBQXjOBS5P|title=Kerenza Bryson|publisher=Team GB|access-date=2024-06-26}}

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height =

| weight =

| country = Great Britain

| sport = Modern pentathlon

| event =

| pb =

| club =

| coach =

| alma_mater =

| retired =

| olympics =

| highestranking =

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's modern pentathlon}}

{{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}}

}}

Kerenza Bryson {{post-nominals|list=OLY}} (born 7 September 1998) is a British modern pentathlete. She won a bronze medal in the women's individual event at the 2023 World Modern Pentathlon Championships and silver in the team competition. Bryson won gold in the individual event at the 2024 European Modern Pentathlon Championships. She also represented Great Britain at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Career

A keen horse rider and tetrathlon competitor from an early age, Bryson was inspired to get into modern pentathlon when she attended a pony club demonstration by 2008 Olympic silver medalist Heather Fell.{{cite web|url=https://www.uipmworld.org/news/pentathlon-personalities-kerenza-bryson-doctor-do-it-all|title=PENTATHLON PERSONALITIES: KERENZA BRYSON, DOCTOR DO-IT-ALL|publisher=uipmworld.org|access-date=2024-06-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.teamgb.com/article/kerenza-bryson-closes-modern-pentathlon-action-for-team-gb/2NPtIgg882nzzeP5QMQ5wR|title=Kerenza Bryson closes modern pentathlon action for Team GB|publisher=Team GB|accessdate=11 August 2024}} She joined the Pentathlon Academy at Plymouth College when she was 11 years old and qualified for her first national championships that same year.{{cite web|url=https://www.bathecho.co.uk/news/health/team-gb-olympian-starts-role-bath-hospital-109745/|title=Team GB Olympian starts new role at Bath’s Royal United Hospital|publisher=Bath Echo|accessdate=19 February 2025}}

Bryson came eighth individually and won a team bronze medal at the 2017 European Under-24 Modern Pentathlon Championships in Drzonków, Poland.{{cite web|url=https://www.teambath.com/2017/10/22/european-u24-modern-pentathlon-championships/|title=Jess Varley bags bronze brace as Pentathlon GB athletes impress at U24 European Championships|publisher=teambath.com|access-date=2024-06-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uipmworld.org/event/european-championships-u24|title=EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS U24 DRZONKOW|publisher=uipmworld.org|access-date=2024-06-26}}

At the same venue, she claimed silver in the women's relay{{cite web|url=https://www.teambath.com/2019/06/05/olivia-green-kerenza-bryson-junior-european-modern-pentathlon/|title=Medals keep coming at Modern Pentathlon Junior Euro Champs as student Olivia Green and Kerenza Bryson secure silver|publisher=teambath.com|access-date=2024-06-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uipmworld.org/event/junior-european-championships-13|title=JUNIOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS DRZONKOW|publisher=uipmworld.org|access-date=2024-06-26}} and bronze in the team event at the 2019 European Junior Modern Pentathlon Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.teambath.com/2019/06/09/junior-modern-pentathlon-european-championships-2/|title=Women’s team bronze caps successful week for rising Pentathlon GB stars at Junior European Championships|publisher=teambath.com|access-date=2024-06-26}}

Again in Drzonków, later that year Bryson won silver medals in the individual and women's relay events as well as bronze in the team competition at the 2019 World Junior Modern Pentathlon Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.teambath.com/2019/07/13/modern-pentathlon-junior-world-championships-2/|title=Kerenza Bryson leads medal charge as rising Pentathlon GB stars excel at 2019 Junior World Championships in Poland|publisher=teambath.com|access-date=2024-06-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uipmworld.org/event/uipm-2019-pentathlon-junior-world-championships|title=UIPM 2019 PENTATHLON JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DRZONKOW|publisher=uipmworld.org|access-date=2024-06-26}}

Stepping up into the senior ranks, she won a gold medal alongside Myles Pillage in the mixed relay at the 2019 European Modern Pentathlon Championships on home-soil in Bath, England.{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/sport/army-star-wins-gold-european-modern-pentathlon-championships|title=Army Star Wins Gold At European Modern Pentathlon Championships|publisher=BFBS Forces News|access-date=2024-06-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uipmworld.org/event/european-championships-2019|title=EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2019 BATH|publisher=uipmworld.org|access-date=2024-06-26}}

After registering successive top 10 finishes in the first three Modern Pentathlon World Cup events of the 2022 season, Bryson was selected for her first senior Modern Pentathlon World Championships{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/sport/army-athlete-picked-compete-pentathlon-world-championships|title=Army athlete picked to compete at the Pentathlon World Championships|publisher=BFBS Forces News|access-date=2024-06-26}} but went out in the semi-finals of the competition in Alexandria, Egypt.{{cite web|url=https://www.uipmworld.org/event/uipm-2022-pentathlon-world-championships|title=UIPM 2022 PENTATHLON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ALEXANDRIA|publisher=uipmworld.org|access-date=2024-06-26}}

She won her first World Cup medals in Sofia, Bulgaria, in May 2023, taking gold in both the women's individual as well as the mixed relay alongside Charlie Brown.{{cite web|url=https://www.teambath.com/2023/05/14/modern-pentathlon-world-cup-kerenza-bryson/|title=Double gold for Kerenza Bryson and first World Cup title for Bath student Charlie Brown as Pentathlon GB celebrate in Sofia|publisher=teambath.com|access-date=2024-05-02}}{{cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1136974/britain-mixed-relay-crown-sofia|title=Britain claim mixed team relay crown at UIPM World Cup in Sofia|publisher=Inside the Games|access-date=2024-06-26}}

In August 2023, Bryson won a bronze medal at the Modern Pentathlon World Championships and in doing so she secured Great Britain a quota spot for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. She also won silver in the women's team competition at the same competition held in Bath.{{cite web|url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/other-sport/plymouths-kerenza-bryson-wins-world-8710353|title=Plymouth's Kerenza Bryson wins World Modern Pentathlon medals|publisher=Plymouth Herald|access-date=2024-05-02}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/sport/olympics/soldier-kerenza-brysons-olympic-chances-boosted-after-bronze-medal-win-world|title=Soldier Kerenza Bryson's Olympic chances boosted after bronze medal win at World Pentathlon Championships|publisher=BFBS Forces News|access-date=2024-06-26}}

Ranked as world number three,{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/sport/meet-army-soldier-who-has-stormed-top-modern-pentathlon|title=Army soldier who has stormed to the top of Modern Pentathlon hoping for Olympics spot|publisher=BFBS Forces News|access-date=2024-06-26}} Bryson relocated to the Pentathlon GB base at the Team Bath Sports Training Village at the end of the 2023 season to train as a full-time athlete.{{cite web|url=https://www.teambath.com/2024/06/26/modern-pentathlon-team-gb-paris-2024-olympics/|title=Defending champions and Olympic debutants among Bath-based modern pentathlon quartet selected for Paris 2024|publisher=teambath.com|access-date=2024-06-26}}

In February 2024, she won bronze in the individual event and gold in the women's team competition at the prestigious Hungarian Indoor Championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/sport/army-pentathlete-kerenza-bryson-wins-bronze-hungarian-indoor-championships|title=Army pentathlete Kerenza Bryson wins bronze at Hungarian Indoor Championships|publisher=BFBS Forces News|accessdate=17 July 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.teambath.com/2024/02/13/hungarian-indoor-open-pentathlon/|title=Golden start to Olympic year for Bath student Charlie Brown as Pentathlon GB win full set of medals at Hungarian Indoor Open|publisher=Team Bath|accessdate=17 July 2024}}

Bryson won her second World Cup individual gold medal in April 2024 at an event held in Ankara, Turkey.{{cite web|url=

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/modern-pentathlon/68865370|title=Pentathlon World Cup: Britain's Kerenza Bryson wins gold in Ankara|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2024-05-02}}{{cite web|url=https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1144814/bryson-seo-win-uipm-world-cup-ankara|title=Kerenza Bryson, Seo Chang-wan claim UIPM Pentathlon World Cup golds in Ankara|publisher=Inside the Games|access-date=2024-06-12}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/sport/army-athlete-wins-womens-pentathlon-world-cup-eyeing-olympic-glory-paris|title=Army athlete wins Women's Pentathlon World Cup, eyeing Olympic glory in Paris|publisher=BFBS Forces News|access-date=2024-06-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.teambath.com/2024/04/22/pentathlon-world-cup-ankara-kerenza-bryson-gold/|title=Phenomenal fencing provides foundations for dominant pentathlon performance as Kerenza Bryson wins World Cup gold in Ankara|publisher=teambath.com|access-date=2024-06-26}}

On 26 June 2024, Bryson was named in the Great Britain team for the Paris Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.teamgb.com/article/team-gb-announces-modern-pentathlon-line-up-for-paris-2024/1Noo9jx7RXKIS1KAzs7qw9|title=Team GB announces Modern Pentathlon line up for Paris 2024|publisher=Team GB|access-date=2024-06-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/modern-pentathlon/articles/c4nnr44jr4ro|title=Choong to chase gold before change 'no-one wanted'|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=2024-06-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/sport/olympics/dream-come-true-team-gb-select-british-army-star-kerenza-bryson-paris-olympics|title=A dream come true: Team GB select British Army star Kerenza Bryson for Paris Olympics|publisher=BFBS Forces News|access-date=2024-06-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.teambath.com/2024/06/26/modern-pentathlon-team-gb-paris-2024-olympics/|title=Defending champions and Olympic debutants among Bath-based modern pentathlon quartet selected for Paris 2024|publisher=teambath.com|access-date=2024-06-26}}{{cite web|url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/other-sport/pentathletes-set-olympic-debuts-after-9371540|title=Pentathletes set for Olympic debuts after being named in Team GB squad|publisher=Plymouth Herald|access-date=2024-06-28}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ivybridge-today.co.uk/sport/olympic-games-beckon-modern-pentathlete-and-medicine-graduate-700316|title=Olympic Games beckon modern pentathlete and medicine graduate|publisher=Ivybridge and South Brent Gazette|access-date=2024-07-01}}

The next month, she won gold in the individual event and silver in the women's team competition at the 2024 European Modern Pentathlon Championships in Budapest, Hungary.{{cite web|url=https://www.uipmworld.org/event/2024-european-senior-championships|title=2024 EUROPEAN SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS BUDAPEST|publisher=uipmworld.org|accessdate=13 July 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/sport/army-star-kerenza-bryson-boosts-olympics-momentum-winning-european-championships|title=Army star Kerenza Bryson boosts Olympics momentum by winning European Championships|publisher=BFBS Forces News|accessdate=15 July 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.teambath.com/2024/07/14/european-modern-pentathlon-champs-kerenza-bryson/|title=Paris-bound Kerenza Bryson’s individual title among haul of two gold medals, one silver and one bronze for Pentathlon GB at Euro Champs|publisher=Team Bath|accessdate=15 July 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.southhams-today.co.uk/sport/the-perfect-olympics-send-off-for-kerenza-bryson-705556|title=The perfect Olympics send-off for Kerenza Bryson|publisher=South Hams Gazette|accessdate=17 July 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/plymouth-modern-pentathlete-warms-up-9413214|title=Plymouth Modern Pentathlete warms up for Olympics by winning European Championship|publisher=Somerset Live|accessdate=17 July 2024}}

Going into the Olympics as world number five,{{cite web|url=https://www.forcesnews.com/sport/olympics/modern-pentathlon-how-olympic-sport-resembles-ideal-skills-soldier|title=Modern pentathlon: How the Olympic sport resembles the ideal skills of a soldier|publisher=BFBS Forces News|accessdate=10 August 2024}} Bryson rallied from losing her opening five bouts in the fencing ranking round to end up in fifth place with 21 victories and 14 defeats.{{cite web|url=https://www.forcesnews.com/sport/olympics/army-reservist-kerenza-bryson-enjoys-strong-start-olympic-campaign|title=Army reservist Kerenza Bryson enjoys strong start to her Olympic campaign|publisher=BFBS Forces News|accessdate=10 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stirlingnews.co.uk/news/24507269.kerenza-bryson-shows-olympic-character-day-one-modern-pentathlon/|title=Kerenza Bryson shows Olympic character on day one of modern pentathlon|publisher=Stirling News|accessdate=10 August 2024}} She then finished first in her semi-final,{{cite web|url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/sport/other-sport/kate-french-kerenza-bryson-through-9473391|title=Kate French and Kerenza Bryson through to women's modern pentathlon final|publisher=Somerset Live|accessdate=10 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/articles/c1ep7ed1v00o|title=GB's Bryson and French into modern pentathlon final|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=10 August 2024}} setting a new Olympic record for overall points with 1,402 in the process.{{cite web|url=https://www.uipmworld.org/news/modern-pentathlon-paris-2024-olympic-games-bryson-gbr-wins-womens-semi-final|title=Modern Pentathlon at Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Bryson (GBR) wins Women’s Semi-final A|publisher=uipmworld.org|accessdate=10 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forcesnews.com/sport/olympics/army-reservist-bryson-aiming-medal-she-heads-final-paris-olympics|title=Army reservist Bryson aiming for medal as she heads into final at Paris Olympics|publisher=BFBS Forces News|accessdate=11 August 2024}} Bryson was unable to maintain her form in the final where she came ninth and saw her Olympic record smashed by the gold medal winner, Michelle Gulyás, who scored 1,461 points which was also a new world record.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/articles/cj62z9ylw0po|title=GB's Bryson misses medal after ill French withdraws|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/modern-pentathlon/olympic-games-paris-2024/2024/kate-french-team-gb-defending-champion-pulls-out-illness_sto20028367/story.shtml|title=Modern pentathlon: Michelle Gulyas claims world record gold after Kate French pulls out, Kerenza Bryson finishes ninth|publisher=Eurosport|accessdate=11 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/kerenza-bryson-turns-thoughts-junior-125239861.html|title=Kerenza Bryson turns thoughts to junior doctor job after Paris baptism|publisher=Yahoo Sport|accessdate=11 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forcesnews.com/sport/olympics/army-reservist-bryson-aiming-medal-she-heads-final-paris-olympics|title=No medal but huge pride as Army reservist Bryson finishes ninth in Paris Olympics|publisher=BFBS Forces News|accessdate=11 August 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/sport/other-sport/olympian-says-more-life-sport-9475409|title=Olympian says more to life than sport and medals after missing out in Paris|publisher=Plymouth Live|accessdate=11 August 2024}}

Personal life

Known as Kay,{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2024/07/army-athletes-going-for-gold-at-paris-olympics/|title=Army athletes going for gold at Paris Olympics|publisher=British Army|accessdate=28 July 2024}} Bryson is a qualified doctor with a medical degree from the University of Plymouth,{{cite web|url=

https://www.teamgb.com/article/kerenza-bryson-five-things-you-should-know-about-me/5OysMTJWJ207Pr52GrORl7|title=Kerenza Bryson: Five things you should know about me|publisher=Team GB|access-date=2024-05-02}} having graduated in 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c3910mdl7x1o|title=Olympics to the NHS frontline, athlete does it all|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=19 February 2025}}

She is a British Army reservist and was named 2023 UK Armed Forces Sportswoman of the Year.{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/sport/2024-ukaf-sports-awards-top-military-athletes-celebrated-ceremony-london|title=2024 UKAF Sports Awards: Top military athletes celebrated in ceremony in London|publisher=BFBS Forces News|access-date=2024-06-12}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forces.net/sport/athletes-armed-forces-five-talented-people-watch-out-2024|title=Athletes in the Armed Forces: Five talented people to watch out for in 2024|publisher=BFBS Forces News|access-date=2024-06-26}} Bryson is also a qualified scuba diver. Her father, Phil, is scuba diving doctor and her mother, Debi, is a nurse.