Fencing win gives Ukraine first gold at Paris 2024

Ukraine took silver in the women's sabre team event at Rio 2016 but missed out on a medal in Tokyo three years ago

Ukraine won their first gold medal at Paris 2024 with a thrilling victory in the women's sabre team event final over South Korea.

Olga Kharlan, who won Ukraine's first medal in Paris with individual bronze on Monday, put in an inspired performance to clinch team gold in the last leg.

The Ukraine team had trailed 40-37, but Kharlan helped secure a 45-42 win, scoring 22 total touches across the final.

It was 33-year-old Kharlan's sixth Olympic medal in total and her second gold, having also won the team event title with Ukraine in 2008.

After the final touch, Kharlan celebrated by removing her mask and dropping to her knees.

Former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko wrote on X: "Steel nerves! Incredible skill! A very intense competition, a fight to the very last seconds, great work of our athletes. Crazy emotions, a historic result."

Japan defeated hosts France 45-40 in the bronze medal bout.