Fencer Pavel Grudyn won his first gold medal
Fencer Pavel Grudyn won his first gold medal after the return of the Russian flag and anthem to Russian athletes. In the final of the World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong, 19-year-old Pavel Grudyn defeated South Korean Do Kyung-ho with a score of 15-7.
Consensus
- Pavel Graudyn won the gold medal in individual sabre at the World Championship in Hong Kong.
- The victory was Russia's first medal at a major international fencing competition after regaining the right to compete with national symbols.
- Graudyn defeated South Korea's Do Geng Don in the final with a score of 15:7.
- The International Fencing Federation (FIE) allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate with their flag and anthem starting June 2, 2025.
- Russia finished fifth in the overall medal standings at the World Championship.
Points of divergence
- The Russian team's performance was described as 'historical' by head of the Russian Fencing Federation Ilgar Mamedov, who stated that Russia has become 'very weak' and is no longer competitive in most disciplines. — kommersant
- Mamedov identified three potential medal opportunities — women's individual and team sabre, and men's individual foil — as having been lost, calling the situation 'tragic'. — kommersant
- The 2023 World Championship was not counted in Russia’s worst performance record because of a severely reduced squad. — kommersant
- Russia's best previous result at the World Championships, excluding 2023, was two golds in 1993 and silver with two bronzes in 1998. — kommersant
- The Russian junior team won gold at the European Championship for juniors in Tbilisi on February 27, defeating Italy 45:42. — vm
- Russian women's team won gold at the 2025 European Championships by defeating France 45:39. — vedomosti
- Estonia lost its right to host the European Championship due to refusing visas for Russian and Belarusian athletes. — vm
Coverage (8 sources)
- Russian fencers completed the World Championship with one medal — Коммерсантъ
- Pavel Gryadun brings Russia its first gold medal at the World Fencing Championships — Коммерсантъ
- Fencer Pavel Grudyn Wins First Gold Medal After Russian Flag and Anthem Returned to Russian Athletes — ЭХО / Новости
- Russian sabre fencer Graudyn wins gold at World Fencing Championships — Вести
- First medal after flag return: sabre fencer Graudyn becomes world champion — Фонтанка
- Russian fencer becomes world champion — Ведомости
- Saberist Graudyn brings Russia its first gold medal at the World Championships after flag return — Вечерняя Москва
- Saberist Graudyn brings Russia its first gold medal at the World Championships after returning the flag and anthem — Коммерсантъ