Olga Kharlan facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Olha Kharlan
Kharlan in 2016
Personal information
Native name	Ольга Харлан
Full name	Olha Hennadiivna Kharlan
Nickname(s)	Olya
Born	(1990-09-04) 4 September 1990 (age 34) Mykolaiv, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	63 kg (139 lb)
Sport
Country	Ukraine
Sport	Fencing
Weapon	Sabre
Hand	Right-handed
National coach	Yevgeniy Statsenko
Club	Dynamo; Virtus Scherma Bologna
Head coach	Artem Skorokhod
Personal coach	Yuriy Marchenko
Highest ranking	Number 1 (in 2012–14, 2017–18, and 2019–21)
FIE ranking	current ranking
Medal record Women's sabre Representing  Ukraine Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 2 1 3 World Championships 6 7 2 European Games 2 0 0 European Championships 8 8 6 Summer Universiade 2 1 0 World Juniors Championships 6 1 1 Olympic Games Gold 2008 Beijing Team Gold 2024 Paris Team Silver 2016 Rio de Janeiro Team Bronze 2012 London Individual Bronze 2016 Rio de Janeiro Individual Bronze 2024 Paris Individual World Championships Gold 2009 Antalya Team Gold 2013 Budapest Team Gold 2013 Budapest Individual Gold 2014 Kazan Individual Gold 2017 Leipzig Individual Gold 2019 Budapest Individual Silver 2007 Saint Petersburg Team Silver 2009 Antalya Individual Silver 2010 Paris Team Silver 2010 Paris Individual Silver 2011 Catania Team Silver 2012 Kyiv Team Silver 2015 Moscow Team Bronze 2011 Catania Individual Bronze 2014 Kazan Team European Games Gold 2023 Kraków–Małopolska Individual Gold 2015 Baku Team European Championships Gold 2009 Plovdiv Individual Gold 2009 Plovdiv Team Gold 2010 Leipzig Team Gold 2011 Sheffield Individual Gold 2012 Legnano Individual Gold 2013 Zagreb Individual Gold 2014 Strasbourg Individual Gold 2019 Düsseldorf Individual Silver 2006 Izmir Individual Silver 2007 Ghent Team Silver 2008 Kyiv Team Silver 2011 Sheffield Team Silver 2012 Legnano Team Silver 2013 Zagreb Team Silver 2018 Novi Sad Team Silver 2024 Basel Team Bronze 2005 Zalaegerszeg Team Bronze 2014 Strasbourg Team Bronze 2015 Montreux Team Bronze 2016 Toruń Individual Bronze 2016 Toruń Team Bronze 2022 Antalya Team Universiade Gold 2011 Shenzhen Individual Gold 2013 Kazan Individual Silver 2011 Shenzhen Team World Juniors Championships Gold 2007 Belek Individual Gold 2008 Acireale Individual Gold 2009 Belfast Individual Gold 2007 Belek Team Gold 2008 Acireale Team Gold 2009 Belfast Team Silver 2005 Linz Team Bronze 2005 Linz Individual

Olha Hennadiivna Kharlan (Ukrainian: Ольга Геннадіївна Харлан; born 4 September 1990), also known as Olga Kharlan, is a Ukrainian sabre fencer. She is a five-time individual women’s world sabre champion, six-time Olympic medalist and the most decorated Ukrainian Olympian in history. She has been ranked #1 in the world in women's sabre for five seasons: 2012-2013, 2013-2014, 2017-2018, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.

Kharlan is also a two-time team world sabre champion, six-time individual European champion, and two-time team European champion. A six-time Olympian, she is a 2008 and 2024 team Olympic champion, 2016 team Olympic silver medalist, and three-time individual Olympic bronze medalist. Kharlan competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2012 London Olympics, the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Kharlan was inducted into the International Fencing Federation Hall of Fame in 2016. She briefly pursued a political career during the early 2010s.

Personal life

Kharlan was born in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Her father was a sailing and swimming coach, and taught her to swim when she was still a baby. He also moonlighted as a construction worker and a cab driver. Her mother worked as a painter and plasterer.

Kharlan's first interest was samba, cha-cha, and ballroom dancing, but the lessons were too expensive for her parents. When she was 10, her godfather, sabre coach Anatoly Shlikar, suggested that she take up fencing, where the lessons were free; she settled on the sabre as her weapon a year into training. For the first two years that she fenced, because she could not afford her own equipment, she borrowed the shoes, sabre, and fencing attire of others. She came under the training of Artem Skorokhod, who remained her coach as of 2014. Her first success was the national Junior title, which she won when she was only 13 years old, against teenagers up to five years older.

Kharlan was educated at the Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding in Mykolaiv. She married fellow Ukrainian sabre fencer Dmytro Boiko in 2014. They later divorced. She is currently dating Italian Olympic sabre fencer Luigi Samele, and they live in Bologna, Italy.

Fencing career

Early years

Kharlan in 2008

Kharlan joined the Ukrainian national team at the age of 14, in 2005. Her first medal in an international competition was a bronze medal in the 2005 Junior World Championships in Linz, Austria. She also took a silver medal in the team event. That same year, she reached the quarter-finals in the 2005 European Fencing Championships in Zalaegerszeg, Hungary, despite still being a cadet. She won four consecutive junior world titles from 2007-10. She placed second in the 2006 European Seniors Fencing Championship in İzmir, Turkey, after a close 14–15 defeat against Russia's Sofiya Velikaya. In 2006–07, she ranked 2nd in the world in women's junior sabre.

At the age of 17 Kharlan competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. In the team event, Ukraine made their way to the final, where they met China. Kharlan contributed more than half her three-woman team's touches and proved decisive in the last bout, breaking a tie to score the last touch against 2002 world champion Tan Xue for a 45–44 team victory, helping Ukraine win the gold medal.

In the 2008–09 season Kharlan won the gold medal at the 2009 European Fencing Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, both in the individual event and the team event, in which Ukraine overcame Russia. At the 2009 World Fencing Championships in Antalya, she once again made her way to the final, only to be stopped by American two-time Olympic champion Mariel Zagunis. She was described as "one of the most precocious talents in this category. She is already steady and consistent, but above all she is the star of the future." In the team event, she and Ukraine defeated France in the final to come away with the gold medal. For this performance Kharlan and her team were named respectively sportswoman and team of the year at the Ukrainian Heroes of Sports Year ceremony held in April 2010. In 2008–09, she was ranked 2nd in the world in women's sabre.

In the 2009–10 season Kharlan won her fourth Junior World Championship in a row, equaling the record established by French épée fencer Jacques Brodin in the 1960s. She is however the only fencer to have claimed these consecutive golds both in the individual and team events. She was defeated in the quarter-finals of the 2010 European Fencing Championships and did not earn a medal. In the team event Ukraine won gold, after beating Russia once again in the final. In 2009–10, she was ranked 2nd in the world in women's sabre.

She won a gold medal in individual sabre at the 2011 Universiade in Shenzhen, China, and also won a gold medal in individual sabre at the 2011 European Fencing Championships in Sheffield, England. In 2010–11, Kharlan was ranked 3rd in the world in women's sabre.

2012–15; World championships and European championships

Kharlan (R) scores against Russian Dina Galiakbarova in the women's team sabre final of the 2013 World Championships.

Kharlan was offered Russian citizenship and an opportunity to compete for Russia in 2012, but refused. In 2011–12, she was again ranked 3rd in the world in women's sabre. She won a bronze medal in individual sabre at the 2012 London Olympics.

In the 2013 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Kharlan won her first world individual championship. She made her way to the final after defeating reigning South Korean Olympic champion Kim Ji-yeon in a tight 15–14 bout. She took an early 8–1 lead in the bout against Yekaterina Dyachenko of Russia, who managed to get back to 12–12. Kharlan then struck three hits in a row to win her first individual World title. In the team event Ukraine once again met Russia in the final. After a very tight match Kharlan managed a comeback in the last leg and received her second gold medal in the competition. She also won a gold medal in individual sabre at the 2013 Universiade in Kazan, Russia. She finished the season No.1 in world rankings for the first time in her career, and she was inducted into the hall of fame of the International Fencing Federation (Fédération Internationale d'Escrime; FIE).

In the 2013–14 season Kharlan won four World Cups out of seven competitions in which she took part. At the 2014 European Fencing Championships in Strasbourg, France, she earned her fourth European gold medal in a row and the fifth of her career after defeating Dyachenko again in the final. In the team event she had to rescue her team against underdogs Spain in the quarter-finals, scraping a 45–43 victory, but could not prevent a 45–30 defeat at the hands of France. Kharlan's contribution proved once again decisive in the match against Poland, and Ukraine came away with a bronze medal.

In the 2014 World Fencing Championships in Kazan, Russia, Kharlan won her second individual world championship title in a row, after prevailing 15–12 over No. 2 seed Zagunis. In the team event, Ukraine was defeated 44–45 by the United States, and met Italy for third place. Again Kharlan came back in the last leg to help her team win a bronze medal. She finished the season No.1 in world rankings for the second year in a row.

In 2014–15, she was ranked 2nd in the world in women's sabre.

2016–22; Olympic Games and world championship

At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, she bested French competitor Manon Brunet for the bronze medal, with a score of 15–10, and in the team competition she won a silver medal. She won both an individual bronze medal and a team bronze medal in the 2016 European Fencing Championships in Toruń, Poland. In 2015–16, Kharlan was ranked 3rd in the world in women's sabre.

In the 2017 World Fencing Championships in Leipzig, Germany, she won an individual gold medal. Kharlan won a team silver medal in the 2018 European Fencing Championships in Novi Sad, Serbia. In 2017–18, she was ranked first in the world in women's sabre.

At the 2019 World Fencing Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Kharlan won 15–14 against Russia's Sofya Velikaya in the women’s sabre finals; it was Kharlan’s sixth world championship title. She won a gold individual medal in the 2019 European Fencing Championships in Düsseldorf, Germany. In 2018–19, she was ranked 2nd in the world in women's sabre.

At the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Kharlan lost to China's Yang Hengyu in the first round. In 2019–20, she was ranked first in the world in women's sabre.

In 2020–21, she was ranked first in the world in women's sabre for the fifth time in her career. Kharlan won a team bronze medal in the 2022 European Fencing Championships in Antalya, Turkey.

2023–present; World Championships

Disqualification

On 27 July 2023, Kharlan competed in the 2023 World Fencing Championships in Milan, Italy, a key ranking event for Olympic qualifying. She fenced against the Russian Anna Smirnova [ru]. In the bout, Kharlan defeated Smirnova 15–7. At the time, and since March 2020 (and reconfirmed by FIE public notices in July 2020, September 2020, and January 2021; and reconfirmed as being the FIE rule in 2023 by British Fencing), by public written notice the FIE had replaced its previous handshake requirement with a "salute" by the opposing fencers, and written in its public notice that handshakes were "suspended until further notice". The fencers then came to the center of the strip and Smirnova extended her hand to Kharlan, who in turn extended her saber in an offer to the Russian to tap blades; the accepted alternative since mandatory handshaking was suspended.

Retraction

The following day President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach sent a letter to Kharlan in which he expressed empathy for her, and wrote that in light of the situation she was being guaranteed a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The same day, the FIE—"after consultation with the IOC"—reversed itself and reinstated Kharlan at the 2023 World Fencing Championships, which since the individual competition had concluded was too late to allow her to pursue her fifth world individual championship, but which allowed her to take part in the team sabre competition. At the same time, the FIE still defended its decision to punish her, insisting it had been right to do so, writing: "The FIE stands fully behind the penalty, which, after a thorough review, is in complete accordance and compliance with its official rules and associated penalties."

Stanislav Pozdnyakov, head of the Russian Olympic Committee, railed against what he called the "duplicity" of the IOC and accused it of picking a side in a political conflict.

American author Charlie Pierce wrote: "Both Olga Kharlan and Konstantin Lokhanov were warmly applauded for their stands in defense of Ukraine, and there certainly will be more of this as the 2024 Olympics approach."

2024 Summer Olympics

Kharlan with her teammates at the victory ceremony of the women's team sabre event at Paris 2024

Kharlan defeated South Korea's Choi Se-bin in the women's sabre individual bronze medal bout on 29 July, winning Ukraine's first medal at Paris 2024. With this medal won she became the first Ukrainian female Olympic participant to have won medals at four different Olympics Games.

Kharlan became the most awarded Olympian from Ukraine, surpassing swimmer Yana Klochkova, when she and her teammates made the final of the women's team sabre. The team defeated South Korea, mostly because of Kharlan's 22 touches scored, and won Ukraine's first gold medal of the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Honors and awards

Order of Princess Olga, First Class

Ukrainian Order of Merit, first class

Kharlan was inducted in the hall of fame of the International Fencing Federation (Fédération Internationale d'Escrime; FIE).

Kharlan was awarded the Orders of Princess Olga (first, second, and third class), and the Ukrainian Orders of Merit (first, second, and third class).

She was also awarded the title of Ukrainian Honoured Master of Sport.

Kharlan was named sportswoman of the year at the 2009, 2014, 2016, and 2017 Ukrainian Heroes of Sports Year awards.

In 2020, a Barbie doll inspired by Kharlan was launched as part of the Barbie “Role Models” series, a collection of dolls portraying 40 famous women from all over the world. In August 2023, Kharlan put the Barbie doll of her, the only copy in the world, up for auction on eBay, to raise money for a rehabilitation clinic for Ukrainian military personnel.

Medal record

Olympic Games

Year	Location	Event	Position
2008	Beijing, China	Team Women's Sabre	1st
2012	London, United Kingdom	Individual Women's Sabre	3rd
2016	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Individual Women's Sabre	3rd
		Team Women's Sabre	2nd
2024	Paris, France	Individual Women's Sabre	3rd
		Team Women's Sabre	1st

World Championships

Year	Location	Event	Position
2007	Saint Petersburg, Russia	Team Women's Sabre	2nd
2009	Antalya, Turkey	Individual Women's Sabre	2nd
2009	Antalya, Turkey	Team Women's Sabre	1st
2010	Paris, France	Individual Women's Sabre	2nd
2010	Paris, France	Team Women's Sabre	2nd
2011	Catania, Italy	Individual Women's Sabre	3rd
2011	Catania, Italy	Team Women's Sabre	2nd
2012	Kyiv, Ukraine	Team Women's Sabre	2nd
2013	Budapest, Hungary	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2013	Budapest, Hungary	Team Women's Sabre	1st
2014	Kazan, Russia	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2014	Kazan, Russia	Team Women's Sabre	3rd
2015	Moscow, Russia	Team Women's Sabre	2nd
2017	Leipzig, Germany	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2019	Budapest, Hungary	Individual Women's Sabre	1st

European Championships

Year	Location	Event	Position
2007	Ghent, Belgium	Team Women's Sabre	2nd
2008	Kyiv, Ukraine	Team Women's Sabre	2nd
2009	Plovdiv, Bulgaria	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2009	Plovdiv, Bulgaria	Team Women's Sabre	1st
2010	Leipzig, Germany	Team Women's Sabre	1st
2011	Sheffield, United Kingdom	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2011	Sheffield, United Kingdom	Team Women's Sabre	2nd
2012	Legnano, Italy	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2012	Legnano, Italy	Team Women's Sabre	2nd
2013	Zagreb, Croatia	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2013	Zagreb, Croatia	Team Women's Sabre	2nd
2014	Strasbourg, France	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2014	Strasbourg, France	Team Women's Sabre	3rd
2015	Montreux, Switzerland	Team Women's Sabre	3rd
2016	Toruń, Poland	Individual Women's Sabre	3rd
2016	Toruń, Poland	Team Women's Sabre	3rd
2018	Novi Sad, Serbia	Team Women's Sabre	2nd
2019	Düsseldorf, Germany	Individual Women's Sabre	1st

Grand Prix

Date	Location	Event	Position
2006-02-24	Budapest, Hungary	Individual Women's Sabre	3rd
2008-03-20	Algiers, Algeria	Individual Women's Sabre	3rd
2009-02-06	Orléans, France	Individual Women's Sabre	2nd
2009-02-15	Moscow, Russia	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2009-03-13	Foggia, Italy	Individual Women's Sabre	3rd
2010-02-05	Orléans, France	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2010-03-12	Lamezia Terme, Italy	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2010-03-19	Tunis, Tunisia	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2010-05-28	Tianjin, China	Individual Women's Sabre	2nd
2011-03-26	Moscow, Russia	Individual Women's Sabre	3rd
2011-05-21	Tianjin, China	Individual Women's Sabre	3rd
2012-03-16	Moscow, Russia	Individual Women's Sabre	3rd
2013-02-01	Orléans, France	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2013-03-22	Moscow, Russia	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2014-01-31	Orléans, France	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2014-05-24	Beijing, China	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2014-12-13	New York City, U.S.	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2015-03-28	Seoul, South Korea	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2015-05-29	Moscow, Russia	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2016-05-28	Moscow, Russia	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2017-12-15	Cancún, Mexico	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2018-03-30	Seoul, South Korea	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2019-02-22	Cairo, Egypt	Individual Women's Sabre	3rd
2019-04-26	Seoul, South Korea	Individual Women's Sabre	1st
2020-01-10	Montreal, Canada	Individual Women's Sabre	1st

Political career

In the 2010 Ukrainian local elections, Kharlan was elected a member of the Mykolaiv City Council for Party of Regions, despite living in Kyiv. She was often absent during its sessions due to her fencing commitments. She stood for election to the Ukrainian Parliament in the October 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election, but due to her being in 194th place on the list of Party of Regions she was not elected. Kharlan left the Party of Regions faction in the Mykolaiv City Council in March 2014. In May 2014, she was a candidate for the Party of Greens of Ukraine in the Kyiv local election, but the party did not manage to overcome the 3% election threshold, and thus did not win any seats in the Kyiv City Council. The website of the Party of Greens of Ukraine said Kharlan was third on its election list in the October 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election.

See also

In Spanish: Olha Jarlán para niños