A quiet podium protest at the European U-23 Fencing Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, has sparked backlash and apologies.
Following their 45-29 loss to Israel in the men’s epee final, the Swiss team stood with their backs turned during the Israeli national anthem at the medal ceremony. While the Israeli and Italian teams faced the flags as “Hatikvah” played, the Swiss fencers remained in place – a gesture seen by many as a political statement.
The Swiss Fencing Federation quickly responded with a statement condemning the act. It acknowledged the fencers had shown sportsmanship after the match but said the ceremony was “misused for political means” and promised further discussions and possible disciplinary action. The four Swiss fencers involved later issued a joint apology. They said the gesture was not intended as a political protest but was a personal expression of discomfort given the “current context of human suffering.”
Backlash following incident
Switzerland’s ambassador to Israel, Simon Geissbühler, also apologized, calling the action inappropriate and reiterating that sporting ceremonies must not be used for political messaging.
Yael Arad, chair of the Israel Olympic Committee and a member of the International Olympic Committee, who had denounced the gesture as “provocative losing chutzpah” added Monday that “the apology issued by Switzerland’s young fencing team after disgracing the medal ceremony at the European Championships is highly significant from an educational, sporting, and diplomatic standpoint... Raising the Israeli flag on the world stage through Israeli excellence is our way – and we will continue on this path.”
ברכות לנבחרת ישראל בסיף עד גיל 23 על הזכיה במדלית זהב באליפות אירופה. כבוד! ברכות גם לנבחרת איטליה על זכייתה במדלית הארד. בושה לנבחרת שוויץ על התנהגותה חסרת-הכבוד שביזתה והביכה את המדינה שהיתה אמורה לייצג. pic.twitter.com/ZRpCL2dCZ7
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) April 26, 2025
Israel, long a target of boycotts and political gestures in international sport, continues to face such incidents despite decades of integration into European sporting federations. The latest controversy echoes a broader pattern of politicization in competition, particularly in fencing, judo, and wrestling
Mathilda Heller contributed to this report.