- Jarecka won the final point of the women’s team epee bronze medal match
- Poland had trailed China before Jarecka dramatically fought back for Poland
- Fans hailed Jarecka’s emotional reaction to securing a podium place
Polish fencer Aleksandra Jarecka has stunned Olympic fans with her emotional reaction to winning bronze in the team sabre event.
The Polish team had faced China for the right to secure the final podium place in the event, after both nations had been beaten in their semi-finals.
The destination of the medal would be determined in dramatic fashion, with a glitch in the scoring system giving Jarecka and Poland a 31-30 lead.
After China levelled the score, a review of the previous incident led to the judges reducing Poland’s score to level the team trailing by one point.
Jarecka levelled the contest with three seconds remaining to force overtime, with the 28-year-old winning the tiebreaker point to clinch bronze.
Polish fencer Aleksandra Jarecka gave an emotional reaction after winning bronze for Poland
![Jarecka was embraced by her team-mates after winning the decisive final point of the match](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/31/12/87990849-13693207-image-a-42_1722427142615.jpg)
Jarecka was embraced by her team-mates after winning the decisive final point of the match
![Jarecka's reaction to winning the bronze medals attracted attention from viewers](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/31/12/87990875-13693207-image-a-41_1722427138688.jpg)
Jarecka’s reaction to winning the bronze medals attracted attention from viewers
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The dramatic win was matched by Jarecka’s reaction, with the fencer removing her mask and was seen screaming in celebration.
Jarecka then fell to the floor and was greeted by her team-mates Alicja Klasik, Renata Knapik-Miazga and Martyna Swatowska-Wenglarczyk.
The trio celebrated with Jarecka as Poland secured an Olympic medal in women’s epee fencing for the first time.
Jarecka’s reaction attracted attention from viewers, who hailed her reaction to winning bronze.
‘Working your entire life for that exact moment and you pull it off,’ one fan wrote.
‘I wish more of the athletes let their guard down and reacted like this. It’s so fun to watch. Congratulations to Poland,’ added another.
A third posted ‘I’m slightly annoyed when someone wins gold and they barely seem to care. This is the emotion I want to see.’
Remarkably, Jarecka had not initially been selected by the Polish team to compete at the Games.
![Poland had trailed China before Jarecka forced a tie-breaker and won the final point](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/31/13/87992201-13693207-image-a-48_1722429242251.jpg)
Poland had trailed China before Jarecka forced a tie-breaker and won the final point
![Poland won a medal in a women's team epee fencing event for the first time at the Olympics](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/07/31/13/87990845-13693207-image-a-49_1722429272466.jpg)
Poland won a medal in a women’s team epee fencing event for the first time at the Olympics
Polish coach took the final decision in May to confirm the fencer as the last member of the four person team.
Jarecka, who is a mother and lawyer, thanked her team-mates for their support.
‘I have to admit that going into the last fight, I wasn’t nervous, I fought calmly,’ she told TVP Sport.
‘I had a lot of support from the girls, who believed in me a lot and cheered me on.
‘We are bronze medalists at the Olympic Games.
‘If it weren’t for the girls, we definitely wouldn’t have made it.’
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