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Ukrainian Olympic athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified Thursday from the men’s skeleton event after refusing to use a helmet other than the one honoring his country’s athletes killed in the war with Russia.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Heraskevych have clashed over the past three days over the helmet, which the organization said it banned due to rules against making political statements on the field of play. IOC President Kirsty Coventry even met with Heraskevych to try to change his mind before the start of the event, but to no avail.
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Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych arrives at the finish during a men’s skeleton training session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, February 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
“We haven’t found common ground on this,” Heraskevych said.
Heraskevych received a message from the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), saying the helmet was “incompatible with the Olympic Charter and guidelines on athlete expression.” The IOC offered him concessions, including wearing a black armband or the possibility of displaying the helmet off the ice.
“I deeply believe that the IBSF and the IOC understand that I am not violating any rules,” Heraskevych said. “Also, I would say (it’s) painful that it really feels like discrimination because many athletes were already speaking out. … They haven’t faced the same things. So, as a result, only the Ukrainian athlete present at these Olympics will be disqualified for the helmet.”

Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych arrives at the finish during a men’s skeleton training session at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, February 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
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The IOC expressed its “regrets” over this decision.
“As you have all seen in recent days, we have allowed Vladyslav to use his helmet in training,” said Coventry, who at times shed tears while speaking to reporters. “No one, no one – especially me – disagrees with the message. The message is a powerful message. It’s a message of remembrance. It’s a message of remembrance and no one disagrees with that. The challenge we face is that we want to ask or find a solution just for the field of play.”

Mykhailo Heraskevych, father of Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, reacts as he sits next to the start house at the 2026 Winter Olympics sliding center, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, February 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Chbaïr)
The helmet included more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed during the war.
Heraskevych didn’t really feel for Coventry, saying “In Ukraine now we also have a lot of tears.” He added that this decision “plays into the hands of Russian propaganda.”
“Disqualified. I think this is enough to understand what the modern IOC really is and how it dishonors the idea of the Olympic movement,” wrote Ukrainian skier Kateryna Kostar in a post on Instagram. “Vladyslav Heraskevych, for us and for the whole world you are a champion. Even without starting.”

Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych during training as he wears a helmet in tribute to the athletes who died during the Russian attack on Ukraine on February 11, 2026. (Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha)
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Heraskevych was one of the favorites to make the top three in his event. After competing in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, war with Russia broke out and he helped deliver food and supplies to his fellow Ukrainians.




