Ukraine's Top Fencer Disqualified for Not Shaking Hands with Russian Opponent
Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan was disqualified after she refused to shake hands with her Russian opponent following a win at the World Championships.
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00:00 Ukraine's top fencer has been disqualified from the World Championships after she refused
00:04 to shake hands with her Russian opponent.
00:06 Olga Karlan, a world champion and four-time Olympic medalist, defeated Anna Smirnova,
00:12 but offered her saber to tap blades in lieu of the mandatory handshake.
00:16 Smirnova, who is from Russia but was competing as an individual neutral athlete, then walked
00:21 away and staged a sit-down protest for about 45 minutes.
00:25 Meanwhile, the Ukrainian government has called on the International Fencing Federation to
00:30 reverse its decision and reinstate Karlan, who they say won the fair competition, and
00:35 show dignity.
00:36 What do you think?