Is this the most over the top Olympics celebration ever? Poland’s Aleksandra Jarecka stuns fans with emotional reaction to winning fencing bronze
- Jarecka won the final point of the women’s team bronze medal match in epee
- Poland was lagging behind China before Jarecka fought back dramatically for Poland
- Fans cheered Jarecka’s emotional reaction as he secured a podium finish
Polish fencer Aleksandra Jarecka has stunned Olympic fans with her emotional reaction after winning bronze in the team sabre event.
The Polish team took on China for the final podium spot in the event after both countries were defeated in the semi-finals.
The medal’s destination would be decided in dramatic fashion: an error in the points system gave Jarecka and Poland a 31-30 lead.
After China tied the score, the judges, after considering the earlier incident, decided to lower Poland’s score, bringing the team that was one point behind back on level terms.
Jarecka tied the score with three seconds left on the clock, forcing overtime. The 28-year-old won the deciding point to take bronze.
Polish fencer Aleksandra Jarecka reacted emotionally after winning bronze for Poland
Jarecka was embraced by her teammates after winning the decisive final point of the match
Jarecka’s reaction to winning the bronze medals caught the attention of viewers
The dramatic victory was matched by Jarecka’s reaction, with the fencer removing her mask and celebrating with shouts.
Jarecka then fell to the ground and was greeted by her teammates Alicja Klasik, Renata Knapik-Miazga and Martyna Swatowska-Wenglarczyk.
The trio celebrated Poland’s first Olympic medal in women’s epee fencing with Jarecka.
Jarecka’s reaction caught the attention of the audience, who praised her reaction to winning bronze.
“Working your whole life towards that one moment and then you succeed,” one fan wrote.
“I wish more athletes would let their guard down and react like this. It’s so nice to see. Congratulations Poland,” added another.
A third posted: ‘It kind of irritates me when someone wins gold and they don’t seem to care. This is the emotion I want to see.’
Remarkably, Jarecka was not initially selected by the Polish team to participate in the Games.
Poland trailed China before Jarecka forced a tiebreak and won the final point
Poland won its first Olympic medal in women’s team epee fencing event
The Polish coach made the final decision in May to confirm the fencer as the final member of the four-person team.
Jarecka, a mother and lawyer, thanked her teammates for their support.
“I have to admit that I wasn’t nervous when I started the last match. I fought calmly,” she told TVP Sport.
‘I had a lot of support from the girls, they really believed in me and encouraged me.
‘We are bronze medalists at the Olympic Games.
‘We definitely wouldn’t have made it without the girls.’