Watch Russian Fencer Curse Out Ukrainian Opponent for Refusing to Shake Hands

A Ukrainian fencer refused to shake her Russian opponent's hand after they faced each other at the European Fencing Championships in Switzerland on Tuesday, leading the Russian athlete to unleash a profanity-filled tirade.

Ukrainian Olena Kryvytska was fencing against Russian Maya Guchmazova, who was competing under the flag of Georgia at the competition in Basel.

The European Fencing Confederation, like many international athletic bodies, banned athletes from Russia and Belarus after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Kryvytska beat her opponent 15:9 in their competition and then refused to shake hands with Guchmazova.

"Fu-k, why are they allowed sh-t like this, who the fu-k do they think they are?" the Russian can be heard saying in response, according to a translation of television footage.

Kryvytska, 37, is from Kyiv and has fenced for many years, competing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

In early 2022, soon after Moscow's initial invasion, the Ukrainian athlete said that her Russian counterparts needed to "pick a side."

No fencers from either Russia or Belarus are expected to take part in the Paris Olympics next month after those who were eligible to compete under a neutral banner failed to make the European qualifiers.

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