The system is now also used in the modern pentathlon in which the start times of the final event (a cross-country run) are staggered so that the first to cross the finish line is the winner of the entire event. World Athletics announced on 7 December 2018 that the 2020 World Under-20 Athletics Championship will adopt the Gundersen method for the decathlon and heptathlon for the final event.
The timing system has been adopted in addition to its use in modern pentathlon, where the start times of the concluding event (a cross-country run) are coordinated so that the first athlete to complete it wins the overall competition. World Athletics announced on 7 December 2018 that the 2020 World Under-20 Athletics Championship will employ the Gundersen method for the decathlon and heptathlon in their final events.