Ukrainian Skeleton Racer Heraskevych Disqualified at Olympics Over Helmet Honoring Fallen Athletes

[blue-wave]

Source: Kyiv Post

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified hours before competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics after refusing to remove a helmet honoring athletes killed in Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Skeleton events at the Games were set to begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Heraskevych, 27, had been scheduled to compete but was barred from the start.

The International Olympic Committee has not publicly confirmed the disqualification.

The IOC had earlier banned Heraskevych from wearing the custom helmet, which features portraits of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes killed since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, including children.

Read more: https://www.kyivpost.com/post/69903

---

My hat is off to this brave Ukrainian athlete. We could use millions more young people with his moral clarity in today's world. He deserves 1,000 gold medals.

Slava Ukraini!! Heroyam Slava!! Slava NaViki!!

[QueerDuck]

1. Was he a medal contender?

[Javaman]

3. does it matter? nt

[QueerDuck]

8. Does it not? nt

[Javaman]

19. no, it really doesn't

plenty of athletes have worn various mementos to people in their lives.

it matters not whether he is or is not a medal contender but that he's from Ukraine and someone has a axe to grind or a knee to bend to putin or the orange asshole. or both.

[QueerDuck]

21. Of course it matters. Especially if someone else benefits from his absence...

... their medal win will be a hollow victory and will be tainted with an asterisk.

[JT45242]

7. Yes... He had a lot to lose

But see struck at making the stand. He is a top five contender in his event

[MrsCheaplaugh]

2. God forbid someone hurts Putin's fee-fees

International Olympic Committee is a farce.

[Donkees]

4. 💙💛

[Jilly_in_VA]

15. I know who that is

and I hope she rains her firebirds on the IOC!

[FakeNoose]

5. It would have opened the door to abuse by others

As much as I sympathize with the Ukrainian athletes, I believe this ruling by the Olympic authorities is correct. Any kind of personal statement on clothing or equipment, displayed with good intentions by the athlete, would eventually become a problem.

Even our American athletes would start taking advantage, and I'm sure they all would do it down the line.

The athletes' personal political statements must be kept out of the Olympics .... or it all goes to hell.

[blue-wave]

9. Honoring the memory

Of lost loved ones is not political.

[FakeNoose]

10. I didn't say it was political

It's personal, and it's not part of the uniform.

[blue-wave]

11. Did you forget your last sentence?

"The athletes' personal political statements must be kept out of the Olympics"

[maxsolomon]

20. There's a ski racer who always wears a tiger helmet

Last edited Fri Feb 13, 2026, 11:55 AM - Edit history (1)

her personal statement is "i'm a tiger, grrrr". Sophia Goggia.

there's tons of personalization going on. and branding, which is just peachy with the IOC.

[Easterncedar]

6. He made his stand.

It’s a real sacrifice. I admire him.

[Clouds Passing]

12. Vladyslav is a real winner 🏅

[Fla Dem]

13. I hope other athletes speak up for him.

I understand that what is interpreted to be a political statement, should probably not be allowed. It could lead to many disgusting reactions. But I see this more of him honoring fallen fellow athletes as a totally different message.

[Jilly_in_VA]

14. This is bullshit

He only did it in training runs, FFS! The IOC are a bunch of constipated old queens (apology to REAL queens!). And don't get me started on the ice dancing judges......

[republianmushroom]

16. Disqualified over honoring fallen athletes,

but, the Olympic committee sure kissed trumps orange ass. Strange world we live in.

[groundloop]

17. The IOC just handed him far more publicity than if they'd have simply ignored it.

[bluestarone]

18. I know they have to follow rules, and i won't disagree but i'm curious if

TSF and his rapist traitors were somehow involved with this. Like i said just curious here.

[Wonder Why]

22. Honor above self. That's a hero!