"A dream that inspires you to be a champion": Olha Kharlan meets the daughter of a deceased defender who dreams of becoming a champion

10-year-old Maria Skorych, daughter of a deceased hero and charge of the Children of Heroes charity fund, joined the social project "Make a Dream Come True" from 1+1 Media. Her dream of meeting her sporting idol, Olympic fencing champion Olha Kharlan, came true at the Olympic Center.

Maria's story is not just a childhood dream but the voice of a generation growing up in wartime. Her father, Vyacheslav, voluntarily went to defend Ukraine in March 2023. In November, he went missing, and later, the family received confirmation of his death at the front while performing a combat mission in the Kupiansk district.

Maria picked up a foil a year ago and started fencing despite her loss. Her dream of touching the world of big-time sports and hearing a success story from Kharlan herself became a reality thanks to the support of the project's mentor, Natalia Solonik (Closer to the Stars, TET TV channel).

"I really want to see you, hug you on behalf of all Ukrainians, and ask: how did you achieve such victories in sports?" Maria asked Olha in a video message. She received a response in words and a sincere hug, an autograph on a fencing glove, and invaluable inspiration for the future.

"It's very nice to be someone's dream. I'm happy for Maria. I want her to keep going. I once had an idol, and now he is proud of me. It's a great cycle of support that shapes a strong generation," Kharlan shared.

For more details about the meeting, watch the video on the official 1+1 media pages on Instagram and Facebook, as well as in the new episode of "Closer to the Stars," available at this link.

As a reminder, as part of the initiative, actress Daria Petrozytska made the dream of 11-year-old Alisa Malofeeva come true, who also joined the entertainment show "I Love Ukraine." The episode is available at the link on 1+1 media platforms.