After being allowed to compete, Olha’s Ukrainian saber team exceeded expectations, making it to the semi-finals. The International Fencing Federation changed their rules on handshakes. And, some skullduggery may have occurred.
RESULTS
The Ukraine women’s saber team did much better than expected. They defeated the strong host team of Italy, 45-33. Then, they went to the quarter finals and defeated a very strong USA team 45-44. (The first team to reach 45 points wins the match. A point is the same as a hit, but is called a touch.) It was a very exciting match, with Olha charging from behind to score the last two points against the US’s best fencer. Ukraine was able to make up a 10 point deficit, and go ahead by one point near the end, which is difficult to do. The US were very good sports, and everyone hugged at the end.
Ukraine went on to the semi-finals, where they lost to a very strong French team 45-32. They then lost again in the third place match to the favorite, South Korea, by the identical score. 45-32.
Ukraine finished in 4th place, much better than expected.
The French team went on to face Hungry for the Gold. Hungry had defeated the favorite, South Korea, 45-39. Hungry then beat France by almost the identical score, 45-38.
Hungry took home the Gold, France the Silver and South Korea the Bronze.
Olha’s Russian opponent went on to the semi-finals, where she lost. She received a bronze medal, finishing in a tie for third place. (There was no third place match.)
In the end, Olha failed to receive a medal. If she hadn’t been given a Black Card, she would likely have medaled, and possibly won a Gold.
RULE CHANGE
After making headlines the wrong way, the International Fencing Federation changed their rules on handshakes. They returned to the COVID rule of touching the tips of the swords, instead of shaking hands. But, it was to late to save Olha from her Black Card. kyivindependent.com/….
SKULLDUGGERY
There is a possible dark side to Olha’s story. Can’t prove it, and probably never will. But, here it is.
The Interim President of the International Fencing Federation is from Greece. The prior President is a Russian oligarch, and “friend” of Putin. (Friend in the broad sense.) He properly resigned when Russia wasn’t allowed by the Federation to compete under the Russian flag.
Olha said that she asked him the day before the match if she could touch sword tips instead of shaking hands with her Russian opponent, and, according to Olha, he said that this would be alright. So, Olha thought she had things settled.
However, after losing, her Russian opponent dropped her sword and went to shake hands. Olha presented her sword with the tip pointing to the side of her opponent, instead of directly at her. (The picture in the news is at an angle where it looks like Olha is pointing her sword tip to her opponent’s belly.) With no sword, the Russian couldn’t touch tips, and just stood there before pouting for 30+ minutes on the piste (the fighting “pitch” or mat).
Olha wasn’t given a Black Card by the referee, but by the Federation after the match was over. The Black Card disqualified Olha from defeating her Russian opponent, who went on to the semi-finals and a bronze medal.
After the uproar and the action by the International Olympic Committee, the Federation changed their mind and allowed Olha to compete in the Team Sabre event.
Then, they changed their mind again, and changed their rules to have sword tip touching instead of handshakes. However, there was NO news of this rule change on the Federation’s web site, unless it was buried somewhere.
So, where is the skullduggery ?
Greece had two very strong fencers in saber contending for Gold in the individual event. Olha was a clear threat to defeat them. Both of them went to the semi-finals — a significant accomplishment for the Greek team, as well as the Interim President (who is from Greece). One of them lost in the semi-finals to the Russian opponent whom Olha easily defeated. The other went onto the finals, but lost. So, Greece received a silver and bronze medal in the women’s saber event — an excellent achievement for Greece. (2 bronze medals were awarded, as there was no third round match.).
Furthermore, Ukraine doesn’t have a strong women’s saber team, and wasn’t expected to advance very far in the competition. They were no threat to the Greek team. (While the Ukraine 3 woman team had a very strong finisher in Olha, a good second fencer, but a weak third fencer. Since the third fencer couldn’t hold her own, it would be very difficult for Ukraine to defeat the better teams with one or more strong fencers and the rest good fencers. Note — the terms strong, good and weak are relative to each other, and not to any of our fencing skills.)
Finally, the Greek Interim President wasn’t on the dais at the press conference where Olha’s reinstatement was announced. If he had told Olha that it was OK to touch swords instead of shaking hands, then he clearly wouldn’t want to have to face Olha in front of the press.