--- title: "The Future of a Legend: Mikhail Ilyashev Hopes Olga Kharlan Remains in Ukrainian Fencing" description: "The President of the Ukrainian Fencing Federation, Mikhail Ilyashev, expressed hope that two-time Olympic champion Olga Kharlan will remain in Ukrainian sports after ending her active career." date: 2026-08-19T04:04:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/harlan-ostanetsya-v-fehtovanii-iliyahev-en tags: [olympics, fencing, ukraine, olya-harlan, sport-news] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # The Future of a Legend: Mikhail Ilyashev Hopes Olga Kharlan Remains in Ukrainian Fencing ![Ukrainian fencer Olga Kharlan in her fencing uniform during a competition, looking towards the future](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/19/harlan-ostanetsya-v-fehtovanii-iliyahev/harlan-ostanetsya-v-fehtovanii-iliyahev-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Mikhail Ilyashev hopes to retain Olga Kharlan within the Ukrainian fencing system. - The athlete is on a break due to childbirth but has not announced her retirement. - In 2025, Kharlan was recognized as the most outstanding Ukrainian athlete of all time. On August 19, 2026, amidst the height of the summer sports season, news emerged regarding the plans of the Ukrainian Fencing Federation concerning the future of two-time Olympic champion Olga Kharlan. Federation President Mikhail Ilyashev, in an exclusive interview with Sport RBC.UA given during the award ceremony for top athletes at the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee, expressed hope that the legendary athlete would not leave big-time sports permanently. ### Strategy to Retain a Legend Addressing questions about Kharlan's potential return to an active career, the head of the federation emphasized the athlete's historical role in the development of Ukrainian fencing. Ilyashev noted that it is important for the federation for Olga to remain part of Ukrainian sports not only as a page of history or a figure of the present, but also as part of the future. "Therefore, we hope that Olga Kharlan will remain in Ukrainian fencing, as part of our future," the publication quotes the president's words. According to Ilyashev, this cooperation could take various forms and statuses, not necessarily linked to active participation in tournaments. ### Current Status and Career Breaks Currently, the two-time Olympic champion is on a break in her sports career due to the birth of her daughter. Despite the hiatus, Kharlan has not officially announced her retirement from big-time sports. In 2025, she was recognized as the most outstanding Ukrainian athlete of all time, and the year before, the athlete received the title of "National Legend of Ukraine." These achievements underscore her significance for the national team, making the question of her future within the federation system particularly relevant. ### History of Victories and the 2026 Context Olga Kharlan's career, which began with a loud statement in 2008 with a victory in team competitions at the Beijing Olympics, is rich in achievements. Over the years of competition, she won Olympic gold in Paris, became world champion six times, and European champion eight times. In the context of the current year, 2026, Ukrainian foilists demonstrated a bright result at the World Championship held at the end of July, where they defeated representatives of the aggressor country. The team's successes against the backdrop of Kharlan's personal status create a favorable background for discussing her future participation in the life of the federation. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Kharlan May Remain in Ukrainian Fencing: Federation Reveals Details](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/othersport/harlan-mozhe-zalishitisya-ukrayinskomu-fehtuvanni-1787090130.html) - Интервью Михаила Ильяшева Sport RBC.UA, подтверждающее намерения федерации. - [Ukrainian Kharlan Disqualified at Fencing World Championships for Refusing to Shake Hands with Russian](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D1%81%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82/20230728-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D1%87%D0%BC-%D0%BF%D0%BE-%D1%84%D0%B5%D1%85%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8E-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%BA%D1%83-%D1%85%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD-%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%84%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8-%D0%B8%D0%B7-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%BE%D1%82-%D1%80%D1%83%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D1%81-%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%8F%D0%BD%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B9) - Подтверждено по источнику rfi.fr - [Olga Kharlan: Titles Don't Change Me. I Always Try to Remain Who I Am](https://www.ua-football.com/sport/olympic/1723988403-olga-harlan-zvaniya-menya-ne-menyayut-ya-vsegda-starayus-ostavatsya-takoy-kakaya-ya-est.html) - Подтверждено по источнику ua-football.com - [Kharlan Not Included in Ukraine's Team for 2025 European Championships. Fencing Federation Names Reason](https://www.obozrevatel.com/sport-oboz/harlan-isklyuchili-iz-sbornoj-ukrainyi-na-chempionat-evropyi-2025-federatsiya-fehtovaniya-nazvala-prichinu.htm) - Подтверждено по источнику obozrevatel.com ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why is Olga Kharlan on a break? **A:** The athlete took a career break related to the birth of her daughter. ### Q: What did Mikhail Ilyashev say about Kharlan's future? **A:** Ilyashev expressed hope that Kharlan would remain in Ukrainian fencing as part of the future, possibly in a new capacity.