NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
Ukrainian Olympian Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the men’s skeleton event on Thursday after he refused to wear any helmet other than the one honoring his country’s athletes killed in the war with Russia.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Heraskevych locked horns over the past three days over the helmet, which the organization said it prohibits because of rules against making political statements on the field. IOC President Kirsty Coventry even met with Heraskevych to try to change his mind before the event began, but to no avail.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych arrives at the finish line during a men’s skeleton practice at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
“We did not find common ground in this regard,” Heraskevych said.
Heraskevych received notice from the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), saying the helmet was “inconsistent with the Olympic Charter and guidelines for athletes’ expression.” The IOC offered him concessions, including wearing a black armband or the ability to display his helmet off the ice.
“I deeply believe that the IBSF and the IOC understand that I am not breaking any rules,” Heraskevych said. “I also want to say (it’s) painful that it really looks like discrimination because many athletes already expressed themselves… They didn’t face the same things. So suddenly just the Ukrainian athlete in these Olympic Games will be disqualified for the helmet.”
Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych arrives at the finish line during a men’s skeleton practice at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
OLYMPIC COMPETITION WAS PAUSED AFTER CHINESE SNOWBOARDER LIU JIAYU CRASHED IN DRAMATIC HALF PIPE CRASH
The IOC expressed “regret” over the decision.
“As you’ve all seen over the last few days, we’ve allowed Vladyslav to use his helmet in practice,” 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 strong message. It’s a message of remembrance. It’s a message of remembrance, and no one disagrees with that. The challenge that we face is that we wanted to ask or come up with a solution for that particular playing field.”
Mykhailo Heraskevych, father of Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, reacts as he sits next to the start house of the gliding center at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)
The helmet included more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed in the war.
Heraskevych did not exactly feel for Coventry, saying “In Ukraine now we also have a lot of tears.” He added that the decision “plays with 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,” Ukrainian skier Kateryna Kostar wrote in a post on Instagram. “Vladyslav Heraskevych, to us and to the whole world, you are a champion. Even without starting.”
Vladyslav Heraskevych of Ukraine during training as he wears a helmet in tribute to athletes who died during Russia’s attack on Ukraine on February 11, 2026. (REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pakinomist APP
Heraskevych was a favorite to be in the top three in his event. After attending the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the war with Russia broke out and he helped deliver food and supplies to his fellow Ukrainians.
