Ukrainian fencer Olha Kharlan, who refused to salute Russian athlete, puts her Barbie copy for auction
Фото: соцмережі
Ukrainian fencer Olga Harlan put up a personalized copy of a Barbie doll for a charity auction to raise funds for Ukrainian wounded soldiers.
This doll is the only one of its kind in the world, the athlete shares a picture with it on Instagram.
The charity campaign was launched on the eBay auction platform. All funds will be directed to a clinic in the western Volyn region to rehabilitate Ukrainian soldiers who suffered war injuries.
The Mattel-made Barbie copie has already received the first bid of $10,000. The final results will be announced on August 30. A few years ago, the company launched new series of dolls based on famous scientists, entrepreneurs, CEOs, athletes, artists, doctors, etc.
Olha Kharlan, who became known for her refusal to salute a Russian athlete during the World Fencing Championship, is the first Ukrainian to be featured in the newest Barbie series and get her own copy.
Фото: соцмережі
Фото: соцмережі
On July 27, Olga Kharlan defeated Russian athlete Anna Smirnova in the round of 32 of the World Fencing Championships. The match ended with a score of 15:7 in favor of the Ukrainian.
However, she was disqualified from the world championships after she refused to "congratulate" the neutral athlete from Russia, Anna Smirnova. The opponent of the Ukrainian went to the next round automatically.
The Russian athlete tried to protest Harlan's actions, referring to the refusal of the "congratulations" by the Ukrainian, which is punishable by disqualification from the tournament.
Ukraine's sports minister Vadym Hutzait said that Ukraine had warned the International Fencing Federation in advance that athletes would not shake hands with Russian athletes under a neutral flag.
Following public criticism, the FIE suspended but did not overturn Harlan's disqualification. The Ukrainian could take part in the women's team competition at the World Fencing Championships in Milan.
