Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan, a highly accomplished athlete with four Olympic medals and four individual world championship titles, faced disqualification from this year’s championships in Milan. Her disqualification stemmed from her refusal to shake hands with her Russian opponent, Anna Smirnova, during their match on Thursday. Kharlan, who is 32 years old, did not observe the handshake rule mandated by the International Fencing Federation (FIE) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, she offered her blade as a gesture of respect. Smirnova, who was competing as a neutral athlete, extended her hand, but Kharlan chose to celebrate her victory without shaking hands.
According to the FIE’s updated rules, competitors must perform a fencer’s salute and shake hands before the beginning of the bout or after the last hit. Failure to adhere to this requirement results in a black card. Despite the FIE’s silence on the matter, the Fencing Federation of Ukraine intends to appeal the disqualification decision.
The Fencing Federation of Ukraine expressed its support for Olga Kharlan, labeling her disqualification as an unjust action taken by the FIE. They stated that depriving their top fencer and national team leader of the opportunity to compete for awards at the World Championships in Milan is deeply disappointing. In their statement, they promised to appeal against the decision and do everything possible to ensure Kharlan’s participation in the women’s sabre team tournament.
The team event is scheduled to commence on Saturday. Kharlan defended her actions after the match, explaining that her choice of a salute was meant to show respect while acknowledging the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. She emphasized that no Ukrainian athletes had made such a gesture during the war, making her the first to do so. Kharlan firmly believes that her victory was earned fairly and clearly.
Interestingly, the match between Kharlan and Smirnova took place shortly after the Ukrainian government announced that it would no longer restrict its athletes from competing against Russians who participate as “neutral athletes” in sporting events. This policy shift represents a significant relaxation of the boycott policy, occurring a year before the Paris Olympics.
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