Fencing, usually an under-the-radar Olympic sport, has recently been thrust into the spotlight due to the political, sporting, and familial drama surrounding the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ahead of the Paris Games, three Russian fencers who publicly denounced the 2022 invasion and now reside in the United States were given permission to compete as neutral athletes in the American summer national championships in Phoenix.
This is just the beginning of the unfolding drama. A prominent Russian coach was fired after a star épée couple left for the United States. Furthermore, a highly-publicized fencing divorce has affected the upper echelons of the Russian Olympic Committee and even birthed the term “raspberry frappé” as an insult in sword-fighting circles.
One of the Russian fencers, Konstantin Lokhanov, a 24-year-old former son-in-law of Russia’s Olympic Committee president and ex-husband of a two-time Russian Olympic fencing gold medalist, is now training and coaching in San Diego. He won the men’s saber competition at the American summer championships after representing Russia at the 2021 Tokyo Games. In a defiant act of solidarity, Lokhanov posed with a Ukrainian fencer while holding a Ukrainian flag after his victory. He also got a tattoo of the word “Liberty” on his right forearm upon arriving in the United States in May 2022.
This invasion has turned Lokhanov’s personal and professional life upside down. He was initially embedded in a life of athletic royalty, having married into the first family of Russian fencing. However, his marriage quickly fell apart, culminating in a public divorce in September. Lokhanov cited several reasons for the divorce, with the war being the ultimate factor. Refusing to return to Russia, he made the decision to leave, stating, “I could no longer live in a country that kills innocent Ukrainians.” While Lokhanov left, his ex-wife, Sofia Pozdnyakova, declined his invitation to join him.
Lokhanov’s decision to leave Russia and take a stand against the invasion garnered attention. In response, the Russian Olympic chief, Stanislav Pozdnyakov, Sofia’s father, made a comment suggesting that those who opposed the invasion were frivolous. Lokhanov found the remark amusing, stating, “I’m a big coffee lover, but not frappé.”
The past year has been challenging for Lokhanov, including the death of his mother from Covid-19, a disappointing performance at the Tokyo Olympics, and a hip injury that required surgery. During his recovery in Germany, Lokhanov contemplated his future, ultimately deciding not to return to Russia. He received an invitation to join a fencing club in San Diego and made the move to the United States in May 2022.
Lokhanov does not believe he is brave, merely highlighting the choice he made to not support a country that kills innocent people. He, alongside another Russian fencer, Sergey Bida, who won gold in the team épée event at the American championships, have faced numerous challenges since leaving Russia. As they are not American citizens, they cannot compete for the United States at the upcoming world fencing championships in Milan. Additionally, unless there is extraordinary government intervention, obtaining American citizenship before the Paris Olympics is unlikely. While their future in fencing remains uncertain, Lokhanov and Bida may seek citizenship in another country or compete for the Refugee Olympic Team.
Despite the obstacles, Lokhanov holds onto his dream of competing in the Olympics and hopes to participate in the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. He envisions driving his own car to the Olympics, symbolizing his journey to independence and freedom.
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