Home SKELETON SPORTS Ukraine's Heraskevych Disqualified Over 'Helmet of Remembrance' at Olympics

Ukraine's Heraskevych Disqualified Over 'Helmet of Remembrance' at Olympics

Read
Vladyslav Heraskevych
Vladyslav Heraskevych disqualified over helmet 

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych disqualified from Olympics for helmet honoring athletes killed in Russia's invasion.


“We will correct this mistake through legal channels...”

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Winter Olympics competition for wearing a “helmet of remembrance” featuring athletes killed in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) deemed the helmet a breach of their guidelines on athlete expression, despite IOC President Kirsty Coventry's personal appeal to Heraskevych.


Heraskevych, 27, had been training with the helmet, which honors two dozen Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed in the war, and was initially told he'd be stripped of his accreditation minutes before the competition. The IOC offered alternatives, such as wearing a black armband or displaying the helmet after his run, but Heraskevych refused, citing the importance of paying tribute to the victims.




The decision has sparked widespread support for Heraskevych in Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarding him the Order of Freedom and describing his courage as "worth more than any medal". The IOC's ruling has also been criticized by Ukrainian officials, who argue it contradicts the Olympic spirit and plays into Russia's hands.


The IOC initially withdrew Ukrainian diver Illia Heraskevych's accreditation due to a potential rule breach, but later reversed the decision after President Kirsty Coventry intervened. Heraskevych was facing disqualification for allegedly violating rules that keep politics out of Olympic competitions.


“I am disqualified from the race. I will not get my Olympic moment,” Heraskevych said, expressing his disappointment. The IOC's decision to reconsider came after President Coventry asked the Disciplinary Commission to review the case.




Heraskevych's accreditation was reinstated, allowing him to stay at the Milano Cortina Games.


“They (Ukrainian athletes) were killed, but their voice is so loud that the IOC is ‌afraid of them,” he added.


Vladyslav Heraskevych's team is taking the International Olympic Committee's decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, appealing the disqualification from the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. The IOC ruled Heraskevych's “helmet of remembrance” honoring Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia's invasion as a breach of rules on athlete expression.


Heraskevych's lawyer filed an appeal under an expedited procedure, hoping for a decision within 24 hours. The Ukrainian athlete's case argues the exclusion is disproportionate and causes irreparable harm.


Coventry Meets Heraskevych Amid Disqualification Drama

IOC President Kirsty Coventry met Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych near the start gate, but couldn't broker a solution to his disqualification. Coventry was emotional, choking back tears, after failing to convince officials to reverse the decision. Heraskevych's helmet, featuring athletes killed in Russia's invasion, was deemed a breach of IOC rules.


“I thought it was really important to come here and talk to him ⁠face-to-face,” she said after the meeting that lasted about 10 minutes. “No one, ‌especially me, is disagreeing with the messaging, it's a powerful message, it's a message of remembrance, of memory.”


The IOC suggested alternatives to Vladyslav Heraskevych, like wearing a black armband or displaying his 
before and after racing. However, Heraskevych wanted to wear the helmet during competition to honor Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia's invasion.


“Sadly we've not been able to find that solution. I really wanted to see him race. It's been an emotional morning,” Coventry said.


“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.”



Iconic Protest: Smith and Carlos' Black Power Salute

Tommie Smith and John Carlos' iconic protest at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics is a landmark case of athlete activism. The U.S. sprinters raised black-gloved fists during the 200m medal ceremony, highlighting racial injustice in the US. The IOC expelled them from the Games, but their gesture became a powerful symbol of the Civil Rights Movement.


This isn't the first time the IOC has sanctioned an athlete for a political message.


Afghan breakdancer Manizha Talash was disqualified from the 2024 Paris Olympics for wearing a “Free Afghan Women” cape during a competition. Talash, part of the refugee Olympic team, was told her message breached IOC rules on athlete expression.


IOC spokesperson Mark Adams defended the decision, saying “If we allow one athlete this expression... it will lead to chaos.” The move sparked debate on athlete expression and Olympic rules. 


Ukraine to Protest IOC Decision, Stands by Heraskevych

Ukraine's Olympic Committee plans to protest the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to disqualify skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych from the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics. “We will correct this mistake through legal channels. Vladyslav, you acted with dignity. This story will definitely continue. We stand with you,” Ukraine Youth and Sports Minister Matvii Bidnyi wrote on X. The Ukrainian team showed emotional support for Heraskevych, with team members seen in tears and hugging each other after the decision.


The IOC ruled Heraskevych's helmet, featuring images of Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia's invasion, as a breach of athlete expression guidelines. Heraskevych's team will appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.


Vladyslav Heraskevych's father and coach, Mikhailo Geraskevych, was visibly distraught, sitting on a dirty snowbank with his face buried in his hands. Heraskevych himself was holding the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) notification of his withdrawal, expressing that the decision played into Russia's narrative about the four-year war in Ukraine.


Heraskevych had been disqualified from the Winter Olympics for wearing a helmet honoring Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia, despite IOC President Kirsty Coventry's efforts to persuade him to change it. The IOC deemed the helmet a breach of athlete expression guidelines, sparking widespread support for Heraskevych in Ukraine.


"“ven though the IOC wants to betray the memory of these athletes, I will not betray them,” added Heraskevych, who also displayed a “No War ‌in Ukraine” sign at the Beijing 2022 Olympics days before Russia's invasion.


“I sincerely believe that it is precisely because of their sacrifice that these Olympic Games can take place at all today.”


There's been no official comment from Moscow on Vladyslav Heraskevych's disqualification, and the IOC hasn't received any communication from Russia. Meanwhile, Latvian coach Ivo Steinbergs has filed a protest with the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) to try to get Heraskevych reinstated, and he's reached out to other teams for support. The IBSF confirmed they received an email but no formal protest.


The men's skeleton competition started on Thursday morning without Heraskevych, who was disqualified for wearing a helmet honoring Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia's invasion. Heraskevych has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.




The IOC has allowed athletes from Russia and Belarus to gradually return to international competitions under strict conditions, despite Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Previously, athletes from these countries were largely barred from global events, with the IOC citing concerns over politicization and safety.


Moscow has criticized the IOC's decisions, arguing that sport and politics shouldn't be mixed. The Kremlin maintains that decisions to exclude Russian athletes are politically motivated.



Tags :

No comments:

Leave comment here

Subscribe to: Post Comments ( Atom )
Powered by Blogger.