A Ukrainian athlete will not compete in the Olympics after his helmet that pays tribute to countrymen and women killed in the war with Russia was banned.
Vladyslav Heraskevych, a skeleton athlete, rejected a final attempt by the International Olympic Committee to reach a compromise Thursday after the IOC informed him the helmet was in violation of a policy that prohibits making statements in the field of play.
Heraskevych’s helmet featured images of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches who have died.
“This is [the] price of our dignity,” Heraskevych, 27, wrote Thursday on social media.
Heraskevych, who was considered a medal contender, trained wearing the helmet in the days leading up to Thursday’s race at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.
The IOC asked Heraskevych to wear a different helmet while competing but was willing to let him use it when he was not on the ice. The committee suggested Heraskevych wear a black armband as a compromise.
IOC President Kirsty Coventry met with Heraskevych on Thursday morning and was moved to tears after Heraskevych stood firm.
“As you’ve all seen over the last few days, we’ve allowed for Vladyslav to use his helmet in training,” Coventry said.
“No one, no one — especially me — is disagreeing with the messaging. The messaging is a powerful message. It’s a message of remembrance. It’s a message of memory and no one is disagreeing with that. The challenge that we are facing is that we wanted to ask or come up with a solution for just the field of play.”
Heraskevych said he believes the IOC and International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation both know his “memory helmet” was not in violation of regulations.
He intends to appeal the ruling, but his race began Thursday, and the final runs are scheduled to take place Friday.
“For me, the sacrifice of the people depicted on the helmet means more than any medal ever could — because they gave the most precious thing they had,” Heraskevych wrote.
“And simple respect toward them is exactly what I want to give.”
Vladyslav Heraskevych competed in the skeleton at two previous Olympics, finishing 12th in 2018 and 18th in 2022.
With News Wire Services
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