A Ninja Warrior-like obstacle course could soon come to the Olympics. I went on a test run, and it was as physically demanding as it looks.

Obstacle course racing could soon be at the Olympic Games.

The sport is being tested as a new discipline within modern pentathlon.

I was the first reporter in the world to try it.

There have now been three test events for obstacle course racing in modern pentathlon – one in Ankara, Turkey; one in Manila, Philippines; and one in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy. 

I attended the latter, where I was not only able to watch athletes from around the world run the course, but also try it myself. 

The trial course consisted of 10 obstacles, including a giant "tsunami wall."

I started by watching a number of athletes go around the course.

The test event in Italy was running at the same time as the U-17 and U-19 Modern Pentathlon World Championships.

Young athletes from across the globe – including from Egypt, Brazil, France, England, China, and Ukraine – tried the course in the morning before entering a friendly competition in the evening. 

Expert obstacle racers, some of whom had competed on Ninja Warrior, aided the athletes, teaching them the best techniques to complete each obstacle. 

UIPM, the sport's governing body, had also organized for local children to come try out the course in the morning, which was a nice touch. 

Before braving a go myself.

Some parts of the course were manageable.

Some parts were a little trickier.

One obstacle was very, very hard.

It was a huge physical challenge, but was still lots of fun.

Most importantly, the young athletes really enjoyed it, even if it was hard on the hands.

The spectators enjoyed it too.

Some modern pentathletes are really unhappy about the removal of show jumping.

When the decision to remove show jumping from modern pentathlon was made, more than 600 people within the sport signed a motion of no confidence against UIPM's leadership.

When the decision to make obstacle course racing show jumping's replacement was made, the backlash only intensified.

Pentathlon United, an independent representative body for modern pentathletes, is leading the charge to try to keep show jumping in the sport.

In a letter sent to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in May, the group says that "over 95%" of modern pentathletes "are unhappy with the way that the UIPM conducted the change in the 5th discipline."

It also said in the letter that "over 77%" of athletes say "it's unlikely they will stay in the sport if the equestrian discipline is removed."

The current men's Olympic champion is among those who say they will quit.

The sport's officials, however, are hoping obstacle racing can save modern pentathlon.