17-year-old Ukrainian fencing officer Anna Maksimenko beat Harlan’s record and dreams of the 2028 Olympics | Fencing

Among 310 participants from 48 countries, young Ukrainian became the strongest. The last gold medal at the Grand Prix for Ukraine was won by Shablist Olga Harlan in 2020.

Magic of numbers

Anna Maksimenko saw the fencing apparatus (showing time and account) stopped at « 1:23 ».

For her meant that the battle would end in her favor

« This is my legend. I of course I’m not looking specifically, but if by chance I look somewhere and see that time has stopped at ”1:23”It doesn’t matter if I or someone else on a clock is a success. When that happens – The soul is calmer. « 

Anna saw her « 1:23 » during the Grand Prix in Budapest. Even when she gave way to two injections in a duel for gold against the Olympic champion Julia Rytsky.

« I thought, well, this time my » 1:23 « , probably, will not work. »

Anna Maksimenko against Julia Rytsky in the Grand Prix of Budapest

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At the end of the battle, Anna showed that she wanted to get leg, the Italian immediately became a little further, – the trainer of the fencing officer, Andrey Orlikovsky recalls the course of the two. – This action was enough for the rival to lose the distance and no longer got to Ani.

Thanks to two successful counterattacks 30 seconds before the end, Anna Maksimenko leveled the bill. Then at an extra minute on priority made another decisive effect and gained her first individual medal In international competitions among adults.

Anna Maksimenko – Budapest Grand Prix Champion in the Personal Ship

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« She wanted to speak as best, but she couldn’t imagine that, » the athlete says. « She has already begun to doubt herself, but thanks to the support of the coach and people in the stands that cheered for me, she could win. »

Andriy Viktorovich and I understand each other with half a word. In some moments, he even laughed at my mistakes. I was reassured that the coach was not angry. It helped to exhale, to understand that everything is not so scary, and the missed injections can be played and won the battle. « 

Anna Maksimenko

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During the finals, I sat in Anna behind my back, – says Andrei Orlikovsky, – during the last injection, when the lantern only caught fire in it – I did not believe my eyes. For my part, it seemed like a maximum of a double. And she did not believe it, until her head grabbed.

Complex rivals during the Grand Prix in Budapest

In addition to the dramatic finale, Anna celebrates two more heavy duels. The first in the main grid is against Kenya Alexander Ndolo, who won with the difference in one injection. As well as difficult was 1/8 finals against ”neutral” Athletes from Russia, Izanat Murtazaeva.

Anna Maksimenko won the « neutral » Izanat Murtazayev

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« Anna fences a handle, this is a protective manner, » Orlykovsky explains, « the Russian woman closed, went to defense. So Anna had to attack, looked at each injection with each injection, and then managed to catch up and make the Russian woman play. »

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« It is mostly when you fencing with » neutral « athletes, there is excitement, » Anna explains, « this time there was no such thing, and probably it is a guarantee of why I was able to win. Although I gave way to her at the beginning. »

« I like Anna have no fear, » the coach says. « If a person is afraid, then he does not do his or her actions. »

After the victory at the Adult Grand Prix in Budapest, Anna Maksimenko rose from 141 to 28th place in the world rating, and became the third in the national. Before that, her only international achievement in adult fencing was a silver in the team during the World Cup in November 2024.

Anna Maksimenko – Budapest Grand Prix Champion

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« Now my fencing chip is a movement and patience, the ability to wait for the right moment, » says the athlete. « I am on a fencing hand, this is more contradictory work. Many people said that I was not very comfortable for a rival. »

Transition to adult fencing and Olympiad-2028

Adult competitions for Anna Maksimenko are an opportunity to try her hand, because her main age category is junior. The Grand Prix in Budapest, by the way, was preparation for the World Cup among juniors.

In this age group Anna – four -time European champion. It is also a two -time winner of the continental and world championships among the cadet. She also won the Bronze of the Junior World Cup.

Anna Maksimenko Vice -Labor of the World of 2022 among Cadets

Bizziteam/ Fie – International Fencing Federation

The girl is not the first year among young people, and among adults. Here she does not always succeed. For example, two months before the triumph in Budapest, during the Grand Prix in Dos, she even left the group.

« So far from it can be expected both victories and defeat in adult competitions. There is no stability yet, we are gradually adjusting to adult fencing. We will not hurry up, » – warns the coach.

Andriy Orlikovsky was already going to the Olympic gold with a scapula Jana Shemyakina in 2012. He also considers his present ward as a contender for the Olympic pedestal.

« Three and a half years will fly quickly. Anna will not even notice how in the top of the adult team and will fight for the Olympic medals. »

-And what do you need to get to the 2028 Olympics?

– Sponsors, – Andrew immediately replies. – Financial support will relieve additional pressure. In order not to think about whether there is money for tickets, for a fencing suit, on swords.

For example, for the season it is necessary to have 10 blades. Anna is fencing the same in training and competitions.

We currently have four swords in collection. They are not new, they can break at any time. Anna fence ”pen « and most in the national team ”pistols. « 

It also sometimes requires additional money for travel and staying in international competitions.

Yana Shemyakina VS Anna Maksimenko: Similarity and Differences

The last gold in the women’s sword at the Fie Grand Prix tournaments was won by Yana Shemyakina in February 2013, also in Budapest.

Andriy Orlykovsky sees the similarity between Yana and Anna. Both are fencing on ”Handle « , each has its strengths.

« Yana was very techniques in her foot. She had serious protection, no one thought that the pen could be taken. Anna has a powerful attack, a very strong lift, she is not afraid to do it with any rival, has no authority. Just likes fencing. »

17-year-old Anna Maksimenko became the youngest Ukrainian fencing officer who won an adult Grand Prix.

This age record was owned by Olga Harlan. And even earlier Jani Shemyakinii. Olga won for the first time at 18, Jan in 24. Earlier, in March last year, Anna became the youngest winner of the adult championship of Ukraine-then the girl was only 16.

« It was a great achievement for me. It seems that for the first time I came to the top three in the personal competitions. I declared myself. This victory added confidence. I think at any age you can achieve high results. The main thing is how you train, how you feel about this sport. »

From folk dance in fencing

Anna often came to the fencing room to look at friends training. In just a year in this sport, they won many medals and went to competitions in other cities. She, although she has been engaged in folk dances for three years, she had only one cup for participation and three awards. I wanted more. So one day, in 2017, instead of watching, she also decided to try to take a sword in her hands.

2017, the extreme to the right Anna Maksimenko

Lviv Academy of Fencing

2017, Right -handed Anna Maksimenko

Lviv Academy of Fencing

With fencing in the life of Anna came what she wanted – medals, trips to competitions to other cities, new friends.

« She is both once and now is distinguished by her working capacity. I think it is one of the features that helps her succeed. Anna always wanted medals, » she recalls her coach, Zoryana Semyak.

Anna Maksimenko with a trainer Zoryana Semeryak

Lviv Academy of Fencing

During the year, the girl began to win the children’s leagues, and eventually led the rating in her age category. Although at the debut competitions she defeated a more experienced friend.

« Anna quickly goes away from the defeat, » says Andrei Orlikovsky, « some cry. I ask not to cry in the eyes of opponents. It is not necessary to show them her weakness. She covered with a towel or went to a locker room, where no one sees, and there you can cry. »

Anna with friends during the competition

Lviv Academy of Fencing

“To lose – Unpleasant, – admits Anna Maksimenko, – but without that. There was no horrible defeat in my career when I wanted to throw everything. Is there a desire to relax after a busy season. And so, to throw sports through losing – it is too early to think about it. « 

Preparing for the World Cup

Now Anna Maksimenko is a freshman of Ivan Bobersky Lviv State University. Trains in the hall, where she started 8 years ago – at the Lviv Academy of Fencing.

Every night, here is a bold. Many children of all ages. The swords are ringing, fencing machines are squeezed. In a noticeable place in the hall a portrait of the Olympic champion, Yana Shemyakina with autograph.

The same portrait of Yana Shemyakina

Alla Vaskovskaya

Now a new generation of skewers is training here. In addition to Anna Maksimenko, the current champion of Ukraine among young people and the winner of the Cadet euro – Alina Dmitruk, also the winners of the team gold medals of the Cadet Championship of Europe-Polina Spiridonov and Valery Bilous-Gridge. The European Cadet Champion is Maxim Gula.

In early April, Anna Maksimenko with three classmates will go to China for one of the main starts of the season – the Junior World Cup. Anna does not yet have gold from the Junior World Cup champion.

Anna Maksimenko

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« I have gone not for nothing, the results are growing, still ahead, the main thing is not to stop, » the girl says.

And her coach adds:

« Anna was able to show all the fencing gods that she really needed this sport. »