“It’s really touching when you talk about relationships and smile. And you want to cry from happiness.” Fencing legend Olga Kharlan happily remarked in a conversation from “Dancing with the Stars.” Kharlan has captured the attention of admirers with her personal life and her skill set. Her relationship with Italian Olympic fencer Luigi Samele has garnered much attention ever since the news surfaced of their teenage love story. Their relationship has only strengthened during the trying times of Kharlan, weaving a powerful story of love and support slowly over the years.

The way that personal and professional aspects are blended in Kharlan and Samele’s saga makes it stand out; during a significant controversy at the 2023 World Championships, Samele stood up for Kharlan, garnering worldwide recognition as the perfect beau. This incident gives an in-depth look at their bond, as does their public support and shared memories.

The story of the moment when Olga Kharlan realized her love for Samele

Samele and Kharlan first met during a French fencing competition. Kharlan was fifteen at the time, and Samele was eighteen. However, their relationship didn’t take a romantic turn until 2017. Even when Kharlan was married to Ukrainian fencer Dmitry Boyko, it was clear that she was becoming more and more attached to Samele. “I always knew there was this Luigi Samele, an Italian, a good athlete, a fencer, and a good-looking guy,” Kharlan remarked, thinking back on their early exchanges.

By 2017, Kharlan had come to terms with the fact that her long-term absence had reached a breaking point in her marriage to Boyko. A moment of clarity was described by Kharlan as follows: “In 2017, I didn’t see my husband for a long time. And I went to tournaments with a friend… I got up the next morning with this feeling: interesting, it was kind of interesting.” Evidently, she started to feel differently about Samele during this time.

Kharlan’s bond with Samele flourished after her divorce from Boyko was finalized in 2018. She revealed, “When there was already a conversation about the fact that we are parting with my ex-husband, then already Luigi became active. Therefore, our relationship only began when Dmitry and I talked.” Over time, they overcame several obstacles together, such as the coronavirus epidemic that separated them for three months. But their love story had many good moments to trump the few bad ones.

The never-ending support of Kharlan and Samele

During the Milan 2023 World Championships, the couple experienced one of their most remarkable moments together. Kharlan was disqualified after controversially declining to shake hands with Russian fencer Anna Smirnova. Samele proudly declared his backing for Kharlan in public, saying he was “ashamed to be part of a system where arrogance trumps honesty” and supported Kharlan’s position, showcasing his pride for her. But Samele’s involvement went beyond statements made in public.

Luigi assisted Olga’s family in getting away from the war when the Russian invasion of Ukraine started in 2022. His deeds proved his unshakable support and personal commitment to Kharlan. As a token of appreciation, Kharlan also underlined that Samele’s encouragement only helped strengthen their connection while acknowledging its impact.

The way Kharlan blended into Samele’s life in Italy boosted their relationship even more. Samele’s family welcomed her with open arms, and despite their forced separation due to the pandemic, they stayed steadfast in their vow to be together. With a laugh, Kharlan said, “I once asked Luigi when he realized he loved me. He said, ‘You and I were sitting on the couch watching a TV show. I looked at you and realized that I just didn’t want to leave here.'”

In addition to their shared commitment, Kharlan and Samele’s story is woven with their mutual respect and support of each other’s careers. Their partnership is a strong mixture of love, seen in the little moments they keep sharing on their social media, and their individual physical prowess, which resulted in a combined total of seven Olympic medals. Their prosperity was evident in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic season, when Samele took home 2x silver medals, falling in line with Kharlan’s steadfast backing.

Kharlan admits the depth and stability she experienced with Samele, despite her disbelief in love at first sight. “I found not only love, but I found myself in this relationship,” she says, looking forward to their future together. Those who follow their path are drawn in and inspired by their connection, which is based on mutual respect and shared experiences.