IOC grants Ukrainian fencer Kharlan automatic qualification for 2024 Olympics
Photo: AP Photos/Olha Kharlan
The leader of the Ukrainian fencing team, Olha Kharlan, received automatic qualification from the International Olympic Committee for the 2024 Olympics.
The corresponding letter of the President of the IOC to Olha was published by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Vadym Gutzait.
The decision to give Kharlan automatic qualification for the 2024 Olympics was made after the scandalous disqualification received by the athlete at the World Championships. The Ukrainian athlete defeated the neutral fencer from Russia, Anna Smirnova, but refused to shake hands with her.
The disqualification deprived Kharlan of the opportunity to continue her performances at the World Championship, not only in the individual but also in the team tournament – the term for disqualification is 60 days.
Ukraine appealed the decision to the International Fencing Federation and later at the level of the NOC, appealed to the International Olympic Committee in order to facilitate the cancellation of this decision.
The text of the letter states that the fencer will receive automatic qualification for the 2024 Olympics if she cannot qualify there through the selection system.
IOC letter to Olha Kharlan. Photo: Facebook of Vadym Gutzeit
"Given your unique situation, the IOC will allocate an additional quota place to you for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 in case you will not be able to qualify in the remaining period. We make this unique exception also because the ongoing procedures will in no case make upfor the qualification points you missed due to the disqualification", the text of the letter states.
Thus, Kharlan's qualification means that she will compete in her fifth consecutive Olympics. At the first three Olympic Games, Kharlan won four medals: "gold" and "silver" (in the team tournament) and two "bronze" (in the individual). At the same time, the Ukrainian saber team has yet to qualify for the team tournament.
Kharlan's license is the 22nd for Ukraine for the 2024 Olympics. And the first is precisely in fencing – none of the representatives in this sport has yet had the opportunity to qualify for the 2024 Games.
All licenses of Ukraine for the 2024 Olympics (as of July 28)
- Athletics – 6
- Swimming – 6
- Shooting – 4
- Jumping into the water – 2
- Boxing – 1
- Modern pentathlon – 1
- Fencing – 1
- Football – 1
For reference:
The International Olympic Committee officially invited 203 national Olympic committees, apart from Guatemala, Russia, and Belarus, to take part in the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.
