Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych has been disqualified before his first run at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced.
The IOC banned Heraskevych from using his custom-made helmet, which features portraits of Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia’s full-scale invasion since early 2022.
The helmet does not display any slogans or political symbols.
The IOC made a statement regarding Heraskevych’s disqualification, saying “despite multiple exchanges and in-person meetings between the IOC and Mr Heraskevych,” it was the Ukrainian athlete who “did not consider any form of compromise”.
“The IOC was very keen for Mr Heraskevych to compete. This is why the IOC sat down with him to look for the most respectful way to address his desire to remember his fellow athletes who have lost their lives following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” the committee said.
The IOC offered him instead to “wear a black armband during competition to make that commemoration”.
“There are things more important than medals,” Heraskevych said in a post on X following his suspension. “This is price of our dignity.”
The Committee said on Thursday that “the essence of this case is not about the message, it is about where he wanted to express it”.
“Mourning is not expressed and perceived in the same way everywhere in the world,” the IOC said.
“In order to support athletes in their mourning, the IOC has put in place multifaith centres in the Olympic Villages and a place of mourning, so that grief can be expressed with dignity and respect.”
Mykhailo Heraskevych, the father and coach of Vladyslav, was caught on camera visibly distraught as he reacted to the news that his son had been disqualified from competing in the Milano-Cortina Games.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha slammed the IOC’s decision, saying, “The IOC has banned not the Ukrainian athlete, but its own reputation. Future generations will recall this as a moment of shame”.
Sybiha said the Ukrainian athlete “simply wanted to commemorate fellow athletes killed in war. There is nothing wrong with that under any rules or ethics.”
“The IOC intimidated, disrespected, and even lectured our athlete and other Ukrainians on how they should keep quiet about one of 130 conflicts in the world,” Sybiha added.
Sybiha reminded the IOC that 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed in Russia’s ongoing all-out war, and 800 sports facilities have been damaged.
“If the Olympic Creed says that ‘the most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part,’ then the IOC betrayed it completely by preventing Heraskevych from from taking part and betrayed 650 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed by Russia,” he added.
‘Remembrance is not a violation’
Two more Ukrainian Olympians had their helmets barred from competition on the grounds of “politicisation”.
Ukrainian freestyle skier Kateryna Kotsar said the IOC disqualified her helmet for the inscription “Be Brave like Ukrainians”.
Oleh Handei, a Ukrainian short track speed skater, said his helmet was banned for what the IOC claims is a “political slogan.”
“I have an inscription on my helmet by (Ukrainian poet) Lina Kostenko: ‘Where there is heroism, there is no final defeat,'” Handei explained.
“They banned it, saying that it was a political slogan, that it was about war, that it was not allowed. I translated it word for word for them — no, it’s not a political slogan. These are just motivational words for me, for my team, and for my country.”
Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, also expressed support for the athletes’ tributes on social media.
“Remembrance is not a violation,” he wrote above a photo of Heraskevych’s helmet.
The initiative was picked up by Ukrainian defenders, who posted photos of themselves with the same statement.