Paris, 11 August 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Hungarian Michelle Gulyas came from behind to win the women's modern pentathlon gold at the Paris Olympics on Sunday with a world record score.

The 23-year-old, a world championship silver medallist, prevailed on the final day of the Games at the Palace of Versailles Gardens and scored a total of 1,461 points.

France's Elodie Clouvel, who took silver in Rio 2016, led after the fencing, riding and swimming but dropped behind the Hungarian in the concluding laser shooting and run despite the loud home crowd.

South Korea's Seong Seung Min sealed bronze.

Tokyo champion Kate French of Britain pulled out ahead of the final with an unspecified illness.

The 33-year-old would have been a good bet for a medal but was replaced by German Annika Zillekens, who thought her Games were over.

Zillekens was involved in a scandal at the Tokyo Games for her mistreatment of a horse, with a German coach even being sent home for punching the animal. The controversy has led the sport to ditch show jumping for its programme after the Paris Olympics.

Zillekens finished 15th out of 18 in her final event before retirement.

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