Ukrainians are elated after a fencer won the country’s first medal at the Paris Olympics.
Five-time Olympian Olga Kharlan won a bronze in the women’s individual sabre event on Monday, defeating a South Korean opponent in a third-place match.
Kyiv citizens expressed their joy on Tuesday.
A 61-year-old former soldier said the emotions were overwhelming. He praised Kharlan, saying she won the bronze for the people in Ukraine and its armed forces.
A 27-year-old man said her achievement is very important for them especially in the face of the ongoing war. He went on to say: “It’s a great message to the world” that Ukrainian athletes can still perform even if they are training under the “conditions of constant rocket and shelling.”
A 20-year-old university student said it’s always important when Ukrainians win something or show the whole world that “we are incredible people and we can do incredible things.”
At the World Fencing Championships in July last year, Kharlan was disqualified after refusing to shake hands with her Russian opponent. Many Ukrainians supported her, calling her action courageous.