Olha Kharlan Wins Ukraine’s First Bronze Medal at Olympics, Ties Ukrainian Record in Fencing

Ukrainian saber fencer Olha Kharlan has won Ukraine’s first bronze medal at the Paris Olympics.

In a match against South Korea’s Choi Su Yon, the 2008 Olympic champion secured a narrow 15-14 victory.

Kharlan faced a challenging 5-11 score before mounting a comeback to claim the victory.

Earlier in the competition, she defeated Japan’s Shihomi Fukushima, Azerbaijan’s Anna Bashta (formerly of Russia), and Hungary’s Anna Marton, only losing to French host nation athlete, Sara Balzer.

With this bronze medal, Olha Kharlan has tied the record for most Olympic medals won by a Ukrainian athlete. She is also the first Ukrainian to win medals at four different Olympic Games.

I dedicate this to all of Ukraine, friends, this is to you. I dedicate this to our defenders. I dedicate this to those athletes who couldn’t be here because Russia killed them.”

A year ago, Kharlan defeated Russian fencer Anna Smirnova, competing as a neutral athlete, and was disqualified from the world championships for refusing a traditional handshake after the match. Instead, she offered to touch blades with her opponent’s saber.