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KHARLAN Olga
NOC Ukraine   
GenderWomen
Born 04 Sep 1990 in Mykolayiv, URS
Height1.72 m
Human Interest
Sport Specific Information
Why this sport? She was doing dancing but it was expensive for her parents. Her godfather, a fencing coach, then encouraged her to switch sports.
General Interest
Awards and honours She was named Female Athlete of the Year at the Ukrainian Heroes of Sport Awards in 2017, 2016, 2014, and 2009. (noc-ukr.org, 05 Apr 2018, 31 Mar 2017, 08 Apr 2015; glavred.info, 08 Apr 2010)

In recognition of her sporting achievements, she has received the Orders of Princess Olga [first, second, and third class] and the Orders for Merit [first, second, and third class] in Ukraine. (president.gov.ua, 07 Mar 2018, 25 Jul 2013)

She has received the title of Honoured Master of Sport in Ukraine. (mms.gov.ua, 01 Jun 2023)
Sport Specific Information
Handedness Right
When and where did you begin this sport? She began fencing at age 10 in Mykolayiv, Ukraine.
Further Personal Information
Occupation Athlete
General Interest
Nicknames Olya (1plus1.ua, 07 Oct 2021)
Further Personal Information
Residence Bologna, ITA
Higher education Coaching - Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding: Mykolayiv, UKR
Languages English, Russian, Ukrainian
General Interest
Other information TRAINING ARRANGEMENT
In 2022 she and her partner Luigi Samele, an Italian fencer, helped to organise for several Ukrainian fencers to train at the Virtus Scherma Bologna club in Italy. "I was just a link between our athletes and the Virtus Scherma club, as well as Gigi [Samele], who together with other Italian athletes organised a fundraiser to help Ukrainian fencers. It is clear that this is not forever. However, I am sure that while we are here the club will do everything possible to make us feel at home." (xsport.ua, 15 Jun 2022; bolognatoday.it, 13 May 2022)

BARBIE ROLE MODEL
In 2020 she was chosen as the inspiration for a fencer doll as part of the Barbie Role Models project. The initiative aimed to highlight the success of women in various fields and encourage girls to realise such goals. "As a little girl, I always dreamed of having a Barbie doll [of herself] and I had one, like most girls. But I couldn't imagine that some day I would become a Barbie doll myself. I'm so glad that I was able to inspire the legendary brand to create this beauty." (footballua.tv, 05 Mar 2020; Instagram profile, 04 Mar 2020)

DANCE BACKGROUND
She believes the dancing lessons she had as a child proved good preparation for a career in fencing. "When you're in the rhythm of music, it's similar to the rhythm of fencing, the rhythm of a partner to the rhythm of an opponent. Sometimes you can see some dancing moves in fencing, too." In 2021 she featured on the Ukrainian version of the TV show 'Dancing with the Stars'. (aroged.com, 12 Aug 2021; redbull.com, 29 Jan 2021)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has served as a member of the International Fencing Federation [FIE] Athletes' Commission. She has also been a member of the Athletes' Commission of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine. (fie.org, 01 Aug 2020; noc-ukr.org, 01 Aug 2020)
Memorable sporting achievement Winning gold in team sabre at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. (Athlete, 09 Jun 2019)
Hobbies Snowboarding. (noc-ukr.org, 13 Jul 2021)
Sporting philosophy / motto "I always treat my rivals with respect. Before we go out onto the piste, we can be friends, talk, and on the strip we fight to the last, to show who is stronger." (xsport.ua, 26 May 2018)
Sport Specific Information
Club / Team Armed Forces [UKR] / Virtus Scherma Bologna [ITA]:
General Interest
Ambitions To win individual gold at the Olympic Games. (FIE Instagram profile, 27 Jul 2020)
Sport Specific Information
Name of coach Andrea Terenzio [Virtus, national], ITA; Yevgeniy Statsenko [national], UKR; Yuriy Marchenko [personal], UKR
General Interest
Famous relatives Her partner Luigi Samele has represented Italy in fencing. He won silver medals in both individual and team sabre at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, and bronze in team sabre at the 2012 Games in London. (SportsDeskOnline, 07 Apr 2022; 1plus1.ua, 07 Oct 2021)
Hero / Idol US fencer Mariel Zagunis. (1plus1.ua, 07 Oct 2021)
Further Personal Information
Family Partner Luigi Samele
General Interest
Milestones Her bronze medal in individual sabre at the 2012 Olympic Games in London meant she became the first fencer representing Ukraine to win more than one Olympic medal. She had previously won gold in team sabre at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. She went on to become the first Ukrainian fencer to win three and four Olympic medals with a silver in team sabre and bronze in individual sabre at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. (SportsDeskOnline, 05 May 2021)
Sport Specific Information
Training Regime Her training programme includes her coach setting mental challenges at the end of a session, including balancing stones on top of one another without them falling. The challenges are designed to prepare her for the rapid decision-making needed when tired in the midst of a competition.
General Interest
Injuries She underwent shoulder surgery following the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (redbullcontentpool.com, 10 Apr 2020)
Most influential person in career Her parents. (redbull.com, 23 Jul 2019)

Major Results
Year Rank Event Venue
Olympic Games
2016 2 Team Sabre Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2016 3 Individual Sabre Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2012 3 Individual Sabre London, England
2008 1 Team Sabre Beijing, China
World Championships
2023 4 Team Sabre Milan, Italy
2019 1 Individual Sabre Budapest, Hungary
2019 Final 5-6 Team Sabre Budapest, Hungary
2018 Final 5-6 Team Sabre Wuxi, China
2017 1 Individual Sabre Leipzig, Germany
2017 Final 5-6 Team Sabre Leipzig, Germany
2014 1 Individual Sabre Kazan, Russia
2014 3 Team Sabre Kazan, Russia
2013 1 Individual Sabre Budapest, Hungary
2011 2 Team Sabre Catania, Italy
2011 3 Individual Sabre Catania, Italy
2010 2 Individual Sabre Paris, France
2010 2 Team Sabre Paris, France
2009 1 Team Sabre Antalya, Turkey
2009 2 Individual Sabre Antalya, Turkey
2007 2 Team Sabre St. Petersburg, Russia
2006 5 Team Sabre Turin, Italy
European Championships
2022 5 Individual Sabre Antalya, Turkey
2019 1 Individual Sabre Düsseldorf, Germany
2019 Final 7-8 Team Sabre Düsseldorf, Germany
2018 2 Team Sabre Novi Sad, Serbia
2017 Final 5-6 Team Sabre Tbilisi, Georgia
2016 3 Individual Sabre Torun, Poland
2015 5 Individual Sabre Montreux, Switzerland
2014 1 Individual Sabre Strasbourg, France
2013 1 Individual Sabre Zagreb, Croatia
2013 2 Team Sabre Zagreb, Croatia
2012 1 Individual Sabre Legnano, Italy
2011 1 Individual Sabre Sheffield, England
2010 1 Team Sabre Leipzig, Germany
2010 5 Individual Sabre Leipzig, Germany
2009 1 Individual Sabre Plovdiv, Bulgaria
2009 1 Team Sabre Plovdiv, Bulgaria
2008 2 Team Sabre Kiev, Ukraine
2007 2 Team Sabre Ghent, Belgium
2006 2 Individual Sabre Izmir, Turkey
2006 4 Team Sabre Izmir, Turkey
2005 8 Individual Sabre Zalaegerszeg, Hungary