Ukrainian disqualified from Winter Olympics after wearing banned war tribute helmet

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has disqualified Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing in this afternoon’s skeleton heats after he followed up on his vow to wear a banned helmet in tribute to Ukrainian athletes who have died during the war with Russia.

Heraskevych, 27, said he would rather sacrifice his dream of a medal at the Winter Olympics than “betray” his fallen compatriots killed since Russia’s invasion four years ago. Heraskevych’s helmet features images of Ukrainian athletes killed during the war.

The IOC reiterated to Heraskevych and the Ukrainian delegation that his helmet violated rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, which states that “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas”.

open image in gallery

On Tuesday, the IOC announced a “compromise” that would allow Heraskevych to wear a black armband instead after warning him that the helmet violated their rules. The IOC then pleaded to Heraskevych to reconsider when the 27-year-old signalled his intent to defy them.

Speaking on Wednesday, Heraskevych said he would not stand down, adding that it was the helmet or nothing. “I will not betray these athletes. These athletes sacrificed their lives, and because of this sacrifice, I am able to be here, so I will not betray them,” he said.

“An Olympic medal would be huge. Since my childhood, it’s my big dream. But in this time, in time of full-scale war, some things are really more important than medals. At this point, I would say that a medal is worthless in comparison to people's lives, and I believe in comparison to memory of these athletes.”

The IOC sent its president, Kirsty Coventry, to speak with Heraskevych in one final bid to persuade him to change course, but he would not be moved.

In a statement which repeatedly spelled Heraskevych’s first name wrong, the IOC said: “Having been given one final opportunity, skeleton pilot Vladylsav [sic] Heraskevych from Ukraine will not be able to start his race at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games this morning.

“The IOC has therefore decided with regret to withdraw his accreditation for the Milano Cortina 2026 Games.

“Despite multiple exchanges and in-person meetings between the IOC and Mr Heraskevych, the last one this morning with IOC President Kirsty Coventry, he 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 essence of this case is not about the message, it is about where he wanted to express it.”

Heraskevych wrote on social media after the decision to ban him: “This is the price of our dignity”.

He told reporters at the Cortina d’Ampezzo track: “It's hard to say or put into words. It's emptiness.” He said he would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Great Britain’s double Olympic gold medallist in skeleton, Lizzy Yarnold, said on BBC commentary that the IOC owe Heraskevych an apology.

She said: “It’s actually quite shocking. Lots of the sliding community have been in contact straight away. There is shock and confusion.

“Taking away his accreditation means he now needs to leave the Olympic Games. The reaction to something which was an act of memorial, incredibly emotionally important to him. I'm quite shocked. I think the IOC owe him an apology. I think this was the wrong decision. He was also a medal contender for the race. He's a phenomenal athlete.”