Ukraine has secured its first gold medal of the Paris Olympics in the women’s team saber fencing event, defeating South Korea 45-42 in a final on 3 August 2024. The Ukrainian team, which comprised Olena Kravatska, Yuliia Bakastova, Alina Komashchuk and individual bronze medalist Olha Kharlan, made a remarkable comeback from six points down to clinch victory.
According to RFE/RL, Kharlan played a crucial role in the final, contributing 22 points to the team’s success. The Associated Press says that Kharlan entered the final leg of the bout with her team trailing 40-37 and went on an impressive 8-2 run to secure the win.
South Korea claimed the silver medal, while Japan took bronze after defeating France 45-40.
This gold medal adds to Ukraine’s Olympic tally, which previously included a silver in shooting from Serhii Kulish and Kharlan’s individual bronze in the women’s saber competition on 29 July.
The victory holds particular significance for Kharlan, coming a year after her disqualification at the world championships for refusing to shake hands with a Russian fencer. That incident had briefly jeopardized her Olympic qualification and highlighted the ongoing tensions surrounding Russian athletes’ participation in international competitions following Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
This gold medal marks Kharlan’s sixth Olympic medal in a career spanning five Olympics. Her Olympic journey began with a gold in the women’s team saber event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when she was just 17 years old.
Related:
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- Fencing federation reinstates distanced greetings following Kharlan uproar
- Ukrainian fencer disqualified for refusing to shake hands with her defeated Russian rival
