Russia’s Pavel Graudyn won the gold at the 2026 World Fencing Championships on Monday after defeating South Korea’s Do Gyeong-dong in the final of the men’s sabre event. The final of the World Championship ended with a score of 15-7 in favor of the Russian fencer, who is competing under the national flag and to the tune of his country’s anthem at this year’s world championship. Last month the European Fencing Federation (EFC) ruled to reinstate athletes representing the Russian and Belarusian Fencing Federations. Fencers from Russia and Belarus were previously barred from all FIE competitions due to the developments in Ukraine starting in 2022. In December 2025, the FIE allowed Russian youth fencers to compete in international tournaments under the national flag and to the tune of the country’s anthem.