Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych has been disqualified from the Milano Cortina Winter Games for wearing a helmet that depicts Ukrainian athletes killed in the Russia-Ukraine War. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the decision with regret, citing a rule against political statements on the field of play.
Heraskevych wore the custom helmet during training sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, despite the IOC's warning that it would not be allowed in competition. The helmet features the faces of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed since the war began shortly after the 2022 Beijing Games.
The IOC said it made multiple attempts to find a compromise, including a face-to-face meeting between Heraskevych and IOC President Kirsty Coventry on Thursday morning. Coventry stated that she did not disagree with the message but emphasized the need to respect the rules regarding the field of play.
Heraskevych's team has vowed to appeal the disqualification at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the IOC's decision, stating that sport should not mean amnesia and that the Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play into the hands of aggressors.
The IOC expressed regret over the outcome, noting that it was keen for Heraskevych to compete but could not allow the helmet on the field of play. The case highlights ongoing tensions over political expression at the Olympics amid the war in Ukraine.
