Olympic legend and a defining figure of Ukrainian fencing, Olga Kharlan has entered a deeply personal new chapter of her life. Following the announcement that she is expecting a child with her fiancé, Italian fencer Luigi Samele, the athlete shared how she is feeling during this tender yet powerful period.
Taking to Instagram, Kharlan first addressed her Ukrainian fans, thanking them for an outpouring of warm messages and support that, she said, surrounded her from the very first moments. She also shared her first ultrasound images—quiet, intimate snapshots filled with light and anticipation. According to Kharlan, every message has brought a sense of joy and inner calm.
The champion says she feels great and that life has not slowed down—if anything, it has taken on new meaning. Active, energetic, and accustomed to constant motion, Kharlan is savoring every moment of this new stage.
“I feel wonderful. Life hasn’t been put on pause—it’s moving forward. And I truly love that,” the expectant mother shared.
Kharlan and Samele’s love story spans more than 15 years, evolving from an early acquaintance into a deep partnership where sport and emotion have always gone hand in hand. The couple announced their engagement in 2024, with a wedding still ahead. Their baby will be the first child for both. Fencing—the discipline that first brought them together—remains a shared passion and a common language.
Samele proposed in 2024, and Kharlan said yes.
At 35, Kharlan is the most decorated Ukrainian athlete in Olympic history, with six Olympic medals to her name, including two golds. Today, those victories are joined by another—her most personal one yet.