Olga Kharlan, the esteemed leader of Ukraine’s national fencing team, has found herself disqualified from the upcoming world championships. The reason behind this unexpected setback? Kharlan’s refusal to extend a handshake to her Russian counterpart, Anna Smirnova.
At the prestigious tournament in Milan, Kharlan emerged victorious over Smirnova. However, instead of the customary handshake, the Ukrainian athlete opted for a unique gesture by extending her sabre to tap blades with her opponent. In a display of defiance, Smirnova proceeded to distance herself from the scene before orchestrating a sit-down protest that lasted approximately 45 minutes.
In a display of resilience and determination, Smirnova, an individual neutral athlete, took to the international stage despite the official prohibition on Russian participation in such tournaments.
In a recent Facebook post, Ukrainian Sports Minister Vadym Guttsait expressed his pride in Kharlan’s remarkable achievements. With unwavering admiration, Guttsait hailed her performance as a shining embodiment of strength, indomitable will, and unwavering love for Ukraine.
“Your performance is an example of strength, will, and love for Ukraine! Stay strong! The main victory of the country and yours will come soon,” he said
Kharlan has achieved an impressive feat in the world of fencing, securing the title of four-time individual world champion. Not stopping there, she has also proven her mettle on the grandest stage of them all, the Olympics, where she has clinched four Olympic medals.
In a recent interview with Ukrainian television, Mikhailo Ilyashev, the President of the Ukrainian Fencing Federation, expressed his strong disapproval of the decision made by the referee. Ilyashev firmly stated that Ukraine intends to lodge a formal protest, as he believes that the referee failed to disqualify Kharlan, who was subsequently banned from the competition.
“We hope that this (appeal) will be completed in a few days. But it’s out of the question for her to be returned to this competition. In this case, we will ensure that this black card is cancelled, because it is a disqualification that will entail the impossibility of her competing in the team competition,” he said in the interview.
In a statement released today, the party expressed their optimism that the ongoing appeal process would reach its conclusion within a matter of days. Returning her to this competition is completely out of the question. In this particular instance, it has been determined that the black card in question will be promptly revoked, as it signifies a disqualification that will subsequently render her ineligible to participate in the team competition.
“very important for us that this disqualification is lifted before the team competition because she is very strong and without her, it is unlikely that our team will be able to go far and score many points in this competition,” the statement read.
The International Fencing Federation has remained silent on the matter, failing to provide any official statement or explanation regarding their decision. This lack of transparency is evident as no information has been shared on their website or social media platforms. In accordance with the regulations set forth by the federation, the act of declining to shake hands following a competition leads to severe consequences, namely a black card and subsequent expulsion.
The refusal of Ukrainians and Russians to engage in the customary act of shaking hands in the realm of sports has transcended the realm of fencing. Marta Kostyuk, a prominent Ukrainian tennis sensation hailing from the capital city of Kyiv, boldly declared her stance at the beginning of this year. She adamantly expressed her refusal to partake in the traditional handshake with Russian or Belarusian players, citing the ongoing conflict in her homeland as the driving force behind her decision. Joining her in this resolute stance is fellow Ukrainian athlete Lesia Tsurenko, further underscoring the deep-rooted sentiments prevailing within the Ukrainian sporting community.
During the French Open, Ukrainian tennis player, Marta Kostyuk, found herself at the center of controversy as she faced boos from the crowd after declining to meet Belarusian opponent, Aryna Sabalenka, at the net. In a recent statement, Sabalenka expressed her condemnation of the booing. Additionally, she acknowledged her understanding of the reasons behind Ukrainian players’ refusal to shake her hand.
Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina has also expressed her support for Kharlan on Platform X (Twitter). Svitolina took a firm stance, stating that Ukrainian athletes are refraining from shaking hands with their Russian and Belarusian counterparts. In a resolute statement, the individual expressed their unwavering stance on the matter at hand. She urges international sports organizations and federations to honor and uphold their decision.
““We are not shaking hands with Russian and Belarusian athletes. That is our position! I call on international sports organisations and federations to respect our decision,” her tweet read.
