Ukrainian Skeleton Athlete Faces Setbacks Over Custom Helmet

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladislav Heraskevich faced a significant challenge on Friday regarding his request to wear a personalized helmet during the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. This helmet was intended as a tribute to victims of the war in Ukraine.

Heraskevich took his case to the Supreme Court of Winter Sliding Sports, but unfortunately, the Court of Arbitration for Sport denied his appeal. This effectively closed the door on his hopes for a medal at the upcoming Olympics.

His disqualification took place during a skeleton race after it was revealed that the helmet featured the faces of over 20 Ukrainian coaches and athletes who lost their lives since Russia began its invasion.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation assessed Heraskevich’s intent and found it in direct conflict with their regulations, specifically those against political expressions in Olympic venues.

IOC President Kirsty Coventry even met with Heraskevich prior to the men’s skeleton event in a last attempt to dissuade him from wearing the helmet, but she was unsuccessful. “We didn’t manage to find common ground on this,” Heraskevich commented afterward.

Evgen Pronin, Heraskevich’s lawyer, expressed disappointment with the court’s ruling, stating that his client did not commit any violations. “The court aligned with the IOC’s viewpoint, asserting there was no misconduct and that athletes can be disqualified even before the events begin,” he explained.

The CAS deemed the restrictions reasonable, emphasizing that Heraskevich could still honor his tribute away from the competition area, like during media interviews or on social media platforms. Interestingly, he did wear the helmet during practice runs, though.

Despite the uncontroversial nature of the appeal process, he received the disqualification notice just an hour before his event on Thursday, leaving little room for hope. “It feels like this train has already left the station,” Heraskevich said after Friday’s decision.

After leaving the Olympic village, he made his way to Milan and then to Munich for a dinner meeting with Ukrainian officials. He was also set to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the weekend.

Reflecting on the situation, Heraskevich admitted to being taken aback by the intensity of the backlash. “I didn’t anticipate it would escalate to such a major scandal,” he said. Moreover, he expressed confusion over the temporary revocation and then reinstatement of his Olympic accreditation, describing it as a “mockery.”

Although CAS affirmed his accreditation status, other athletes in Milan-Cortina were allowed to pay tributes without facing repercussions. For instance, American figure skater Maxim Naumov showcased images of his deceased parents during a non-competition moment, while Italian snowboarder Rolando Fischnerer displayed a tiny Russian flag on his helmet as a nod to previous Olympic venues. Similarly, Jared Firestone, an Israeli skeleton athlete, wore a kippah inscribed with the names of the 11 athletes who died at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

The IOC clarified that none of these actions breached their rules. Notably, Naumov put on the photo during a moment far from active competition, and Firestone’s kippah was reportedly covered by a beanie, as noted by IOC spokesman Mark Adams.

In a final offer, the IOC suggested that Heraskevich could compete in a different helmet and still pay tribute after his runs, potentially by wearing a black armband. Heraskevich, however, countered that such actions reflected poorly on the IOC’s stance. “I think this is the wrong side of history for them,” he stated.