Small but important interview from Olga Kharlan
🗣 "Friends, hello everyone. Today was, as you can see, a very difficult and very important day. What happened today raises a lot of questions, but at the same time gives many answers. We understood that the country that terrorizes our state, our people, our families, also terrorizes sports. Because what happened today is what should have happened.
💬 I didn't want to shake this athlete's hand. I acted with my heart. So when I heard that they wanted to remove me from the competition and give me a black card, of course it killed me. It hurt so much that I screamed in pain. But then I started to come alive. Because you... Because your messages, your stories, your support, the support of everyone, especially our fighters who protect us. When I hear that I motivate them, or that my act motivates them, it's... It's indescribable. I thank each and every one of you, thank you to every fighter who protects us.
❤️ You know, no one can ever be forced into peace. Especially Ukrainians. No handshakes. Never. It will always be like that. I, like everyone in the adequate world, understand that the rules must change because the world changes. But what I feel from all of you cannot be expressed in words. Thanks to everyone, I feel everything, you are in my heart. Glory to Ukraine," said Olga.
Yes, Kharlan was dq today, but it's one more argument why she is one of the greatest Ukrainian athletes in history. Absolutely incredible fencer, I proud of her so much