Margaux

Isaksen

Pronunciation: Mar-Go E-Sock-Son
Preferred Dsciplines: running and swimming

Read Margaux's blog on the UIPM website

See Margaux's December 2009 Q&A

Current World Ranking (as of 11/16/11): 25th
2011 World Cup Ranking: 24th
2011 Junior World Ranking: 7th
2011 Senior National Ranking: 1st
2011 Junior National Ranking: 2nd

Personal

: Margaux Isaksen has proven to be a quick study in the sport of modern pentathlon.  Having first burst onto the national scene in June 2007 when she captured all three U.S. National Championship titles (senior, junior and youth).  In February 2008, Isaksen made her first World Cup Final at the first World Cup stop of the season in Cairo, Egypt finishing 13^th.  She served notice that she was a serious contender for 2008 when she won the silver medal at the second World Cup stop of the season in Mexico City, Mexico.  On June 1, 2008, the 16-year-old qualified for the 2008 Olympic Games when she received an official Olympic invitation from the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) for her ranking on the pentathlon world ranking list for the Olympic qualifying period.  Isaksen secured her spot on the U.S. Olympic Team by being ranked second among American women in the UIPM World Cup standings.  Having found early success in the sport of modern pentathlon, Isaksen moved to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. to train full-time in the fall of 2007.  She is currently being home-schooled by her mother, Kathleen West.  Before leaving her high school in Fayetteville, Ark. she ran cross-country and was a member of the Arkansas State Championship Cross-Country Team in 2007.  She also ran cross-country in junior high school.  She has proven to be an all-around athlete and does well at most sports.  Was also consistently on the honor roll while in school and received the Presidential Environmental Youth Award which provided her the opportunity to attend an awards ceremony at the White House where she met and spoke with President George W. Bush.  Upon completion of high school, Margaux is considering several colleges and hopes to study law.  Margaux enjoys travelling, reading, hanging out in nature with family and friends and trying as many new sports as possible.  She loves people, animals and the outdoors.  She says she likes to learn things from others.  She says that her mother (Kathleen West) and Margaret Mead are her role models because they enjoy her love of nature and cultures.  They also see the value of studying the lives of other people and far away places.  When asked what makes her unique, Margaux says that "All people are unique, but I guess I pride myself on my ability to set a goal and work towards that goal.  I seem to have a real tenacity for being successful."  Is the daughter of Kathleen West and the late Tommy Isaksen.  Her stepdad is Steve Ferguson and she has a younger sister, Isabella.

Did You Know?: Margaux grew up on her family's farm in Arkansas and is currently enrolled in university majoring in sports nutrition.

Competition Record:

2013 Results:
World Cup #1 (Palm Springs, Californai):
                -7th Place in Women's Individual Final
                -6th Place Mixed Relay

2012 Results:
Junior World Championships (Drzonkow, Poland): 
                -GOLD in women's relay (w/Isabella Isaksen & Samantha Achterberg)
                -GOLD in women's team event (w/ Isabella Isaksen & Achterberg)
                -GOLD in women's individual final
                -10th in mixed relay (w/ Nathan Schrimsher)
Olympic Games (London, England): 4th
January Domestic Qualifier (Colorado Springs): 1st

2011 Results:
December Domestic Qualifier (Colorado Springs): 1st
Champion of Champions (Sicily, Italy): GOLD
Pan Am Games (Guadalajara, Mexico): GOLD
World Championships (Moscow, Russia): 11th-women's individual/4th-mixed relay with Sam Sacksen
U.S. Nationals (Colorado Springs - Sr. Division): GOLD 
U.S. Nationals (Colorado Springs - Jr. Division): GOLD
World Cup Final (London, England): 26th
Kremlin Cup (Moscow, Russia): 24th
World Cup #3 (Budapest, Hungary): 27th
World Cup #2 (Sassari, Italy): 15th individual/7th in mixed relay with Dennis Bowsher
World Cup #1 (Rancho Mirage, Calif.): 20th
Domestic Qualifier in Palm Springs, Calif.: 1st

2010 Results:
Domestic Qualifier in Colorado Springs: 1st
Pan American Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - SILVER
World Championships in Chengdu, China - 12th Place (individual); 7th Place (mixed relay)
World Cup Final in Moscow, Russia - 10th Place
World Cup #5 in Berling, Germany - 16th Place
World Cup #4 in Budapest, Hungary - 14th Place
World Cup #3 in Medway, Great Britain - 24th Place
World Cup #1 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico - Silver Medal

2009 Results:
World Cup Final in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 14th Place
World Championships in London, England - 17th Place
Junior World Championships in Khaisiung City, Taipei, R.O.C. - Bronze Medal
USA Pentathlon Senior National Championships in Rancho Mirage, Calif. - Gold Medal
USA Pentathlon Youth A National Championships in Rancho Mirage, Calif. - Gold Medal
NORCECA Championships in Rancho Mirage, Calif. - Gold Medal
U.S. Open in Rancho Mirage, Calif. - Gold Medal
World Cup #4 in Rome, Italy - 4th Place
World Cup #3 in Szekesfehervar, Hungary - 7th Place
World Cup #1 in Mexico City, Mexico - 9th Place

2008 Results:
Olympic Games in Beijing, China - 21st Place
World Championships in Budapest, Hungary - 29^th Place
World Cup #5 in Kladno, Czech Republic - 21^st Place
World Cup #4 in Madrid, Spain - 32^nd Place
World Cup #3 in Millfield, England -  29^th Place
World Cup #2 in Mexico City, Mexico - Silver Medal
World Cup #1 in Cairo, Egypt - 13^th Place 

2007 Results:
South American Modern Pentathlon Championships in Rio de Janiero, Brazil - Gold Medal
Junior World Championships in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal - 18^th Place
World Championships in Berlin, Germany - Did not advance past semifinal
USA Pentathlon Youth National Championships in Roswell, N.M. USA - Gold Medal
USA Pentathlon Senior National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA - Gold Medal
USA Pentathlon Junior National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA - Gold Medal
World Cup #5 in Drzonkow, Poland - Did not advance past semifinal
World Cup #4 in Budapest, Hungary - Did not advance past semifinal
World Cup #3, Millfield, England - Did not advance past semifinal

2006 Results:
Youth A World Championships in Popoli-Sulmona, Italy - 31^st Place

2005 Results:
U.S. Modern Pentathlon Junior National Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., USA - Fourth Place

last updated 2/27/13

Olympic Experience

• 3-time Olympian
• Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, 19th (Individual - Women)
• Olympic Games London 2012, 4th (Individual - Women)
• Olympic Games Beijing 2008, 20th (Individual - Women)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2016 – (Team - Women), 43th (Individual - Women)
• Years of participation: Individual - Women 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016; Team - Women 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016; Relay - Mixed 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015; Relay - Women 2007, 2008, 2014
• Medals: 1 (1 bronze)
• Bronze – 2015 (Relay - Mixed)