A Ukrainian skeleton athlete on Thursday was not allowed to start his race at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy because of a helmet honouring fellow athletes killed in the war with Russia.
According to a statement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Vladyslav Heraskevych was previously warned that he would not be allowed to start in the men’s skeleton event wearing the helmet, which “did not comply with IOC rules.”
The IOC, in order to mourn the loss of his fellow athletes, offered the athlete a black armband and/or a black ribbon as an alternative to wearing the helmet, the statement said.
The IOC said Heraskevych was able to display his helmet during all training runs and was offered the opportunity to wear it immediately after the competition while passing through the mixed zone.
However, Heraskevych “did not consider any form of compromise,” refusing to comply with the IOC’s rules on athlete expression, which is why he was not allowed to start the race, the committee said.
‘Having courage is more than having medals’
Commenting on the disqualification, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the country is ‘proud of Vladyslav and his act,’ adding, ‘Having courage is more than having medals.
He stated that the committee’s decision “is definitely not in line with the principles of Olympism, which are based on justice and peace.”
“His helmet with portraits of deceased Ukrainian athletes is about honor and memory,” he said, noting that 660 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed by Russia during the war.
“This is a reminder to the whole world of what Russian aggression is and the price of the fight for independence. There is no violation of any rule in this,” he said.
Meanwhile, Heraskevych said on social media platform X that the committee’s decision is “the price for our dignity.”
