Russian Fencer Wins World Championship Gold in First Competition Under National Flag Since 2022

By AFP July 29, 2026 Pavel Graudyn. REUTERS /T yrone Siu A Russian fencer has won gold at the World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong, marking the country's first world title since being allowed to compete under its own flag in the sport. Pavel Graudyn defeated South Korea's Do Gyeong-dong 15-7 in the men's individual sabre final on Tuesday. The event was the first major championship since the International Fencing Federation lifted all restrictions on Russian and Belarusian athletes on June 2. Initial sanctions imposed in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine had forced athletes from both countries to compete strictly as neutrals. Earlier this month, the International Olympic Committee also eased restrictions, clearing Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete in team events and participate in qualifiers for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Ukraine condemned the IOC's move as "premature" and "unfounded" after more than four years of war. Fencing joins governing bodies in swimming, gymnastics, judo, taekwondo and wrestling that have recently removed restrictions on Russian and Belarusian competitors. Read more about: Sports Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Ski Mountaineer Nikita Filippov Wins First Medal at 2026 Winter Olympics for Individual Neutral Athletes Filippov finished the men’s ski mountaineering sprint 1.52 seconds behind Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll, who won gold. 1 Min read Russian Gymnastics Federation Announces Return to International Competitions The federation said Russian gymnasts will compete in several upcoming events, but did not say whether they would do so under the Russian flag. 1 Min read Olympic High Jump Champion Lasitskene Considers Retirement Amid International Competition Ban “I personally can no longer find the motivation to compete only in domestic competitions,” Maria Lasitskene told state media. 1 Min read Billionaire Usmanov’s Fencing Federation Reinstates Russia and Belarus for Team Events Russian Fencing Federation President Ilgar Mamedov welcomed the move but cautioned that Russia would send a “weakened squad” due to ongoing restrictions... 1 Min read