Ukrainian Skeleton Racer Disqualified Over Tribute Helmet at Winter Olympics

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych has been disqualified from the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics after refusing to remove a helmet that was honoring athletes killed in the war in Ukraine.

The 27-year-old had worn the helmet during training sessions in Cortina d’Ampezzo, and features images of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches who died following Russia’s invasion, including weightlifter Alina Perehudova, boxer Pavlo Ischenko, ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov, actor and athlete Ivan Kononenko, diver and coach Mykyta Kozubenko, shooter Oleksiy Habarov and dancer Daria Kurdel.

Olympic officials said the helmet broke the rules surrounding athlete expression. Officials had suggested that he compete wearing a black armband instead and share the helmet’s tribute in media areas and on social media, describing the field of play as off-limits under Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which states: “No kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas".

However, after several meetings, including a face-to-face conversation with IOC President Kirsty Coventry on Thursday morning, Heraskevych stood by his decision to wear it in competition.

In a statement, the IOC said: “Having been given one final opportunity, skeleton pilot Vladylsav Heraskevych from Ukraine will not be able to start his race at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games this morning. The decision followed his refusal to comply with the IOC’s Guidelines on Athlete Expression. It was taken by the jury of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) based on the fact that the helmet he intended to wear was not compliant with the rules.”

The IOC added that it had “decided with regret to withdraw” his accreditation and stressed that the issue was not the message itself, but where he chose to display it. 

Coventry said she personally wanted to see him race. “I was not meant to be here, but I thought it was really important to come here and talk to him face to face. No one, especially me, is disagreeing with the messaging, it’s a powerful message, it’s a message of remembrance, of memory,” she said. “The challenge was to find a solution for the field of play. Sadly, we’ve not been able to find that solution… I really wanted to see him race. It’s been an emotional morning. It’s literally about the rules and the regulations and that in this case… we have to be able to keep a safe environment for everyone and sadly, that just means no messaging is allowed.”

Heraskevych had made clear earlier in the week that he would not back down. “I wear this helmet two days ago, yesterday, today. I will wear it tomorrow and I will wear it for the race day. These people sacrificed their lives and because of that, I am able to be here today. I’m able to be at the Olympics, and I will not betray them.”

He also said, “Some things are more important than sports,” and argued that he had been “treated unequally compared to other athletes.”

After the decision was announced, he posted on Instagram: “This is price of our dignity.”

Ukraine’s Olympic committee defended him, saying that the helmet carried no political slogans and simply honored members of the country’s sports community who had died.

Heraskevych, who finished fourth at last year’s world championships and was considered a medal contender, had posted one of the fastest training times earlier in the week before skipping his final session. He now plans to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Latvia’s skeleton federation has also submitted a protest seeking his reinstatement.

The men’s skeleton competition is now underway.