Olga Kharlan wins Ukraine's first medal at the Paris Olympics amidst war.
Kharlan staged an impressive comeback, overturning a six-point deficit to beat Choi Sebin 15-14 in women's saber fencing for bronze, energizing the crowd.
A nail-raised hand in Ukrainian colors counted to five, marking the achievements of a five-time Olympian and fifth medal winner.
Kharlan's most recent medal differs significantly from previous ones.
Kharlan was disqualified from the world championships for refusing a handshake with a Russian opponent.
The incident underscored the debate over Russian athletes' participation after the invasion of Ukraine.
In response to backlash, the IOC gave Kharlan a guaranteed spot at the Games, and fencing's governing body rescinded the ban and made handshakes optional.
The French crowd has been notably spirited and energetic in the traditionally composed domain of fencing.
The Grand Palais hosted a lively atmosphere during the first three days of Olympic fencing, with a range of reactions from the audience, including cheers, boos, and the French national anthem. At times, the crowd's enthusiasm was evident through their stomping, which occasionally caused the tall metal stands to rattle.
Until Monday, French gold had not been observed by them.
Two French fencers, namely Sara Balzer and Manon Apithy-Brunet, showcased their skills in the women's saber final. Apithy-Brunet emerged victorious, securing her third Olympic medal and first gold with a score of 15-12. The atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm as the audience applauded and cheered for every touch made by both fencers, highlighting the celebration of French fencing.
Prior to that, French fencers had participated in two finals, resulting in losses on both occasions. Auriane Mallo-Breton secured second place in the women's epee category on Saturday, and Yannick Borel was the runner-up in the men's epee event a day later.
A gold medal is awarded to Hong Kong, while the United States secures a historic bronze.
Hong Kong's previous Olympic gold medal count stood at only two before the Paris Games commenced. However, in a remarkably short span of three days, this count has now been doubled, courtesy of the outstanding performance by its fencers.
Cheung Ka Long triumphed in a tense final against Filippo Macchi, prevailing 15-14 after a series of video reviews. Cheung successfully defended his gold medal from Tokyo three years ago.
Hong Kong secured its second gold medal in Paris when Vivian Kong Man Wai triumphed in the women's epee event on Saturday.
American fencer Nick Itkin secured the bronze medal with a 15-12 victory over Kazuki Iimura, adding to the team bronze he previously earned in Tokyo. In response, Itkin described the experience as a fast-paced blur but acknowledged a sense of relief at that moment.
After Lee Kiefer and Lauren Scruggs secured gold and silver medals in women's foil on Sunday, Itkin's medal marked a historic achievement for the United States. It was the first time that individual medals were won in both men's and women's fencing events at the same Olympics.