Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, one of the medal favorites at the Milan-Cortina Games, was barred from competing this Thursday after refusing a last-minute request from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) not to wear a helmet that honors more than 20 athletes and coaches killed in his country’s war against Russia.
The decision was made about 45 minutes before the start of the competition and ended a three-day saga in which Heraskevych knew he was at risk of being removed from the Games for wearing the helmet, which, according to the IOC, violates rules against demonstrations on the field.
The International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation said its decision to wear the helmet was “incompatible with the Olympic Charter and Guidelines on Athlete Expression.”
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He used the piece in training, but the IOC asked the athlete to use a different helmet in competitions. The federation offered concessions, such as wearing a black armband or allowing him to display his helmet after leaving the ice.
“I deeply believe that IBSF and the IOC understand that I am not violating any rules,” Heraskevych said. “Also, I would say it’s painful that this looks like discrimination, because so many athletes have already spoken out… They haven’t faced the same things. So suddenly, only the Ukrainian athlete at these Olympics will be disqualified because of the helmet.”
IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who was due to be in Cortina d’Ampezzo to watch the alpine skiing, went to the winter sports center to meet Heraskevych. “We didn’t reach a consensus on this,” said the sports director on the matter.
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Excited Coventry could not contain their excitement after the meeting. The Olympic swimming champion made it clear she wanted a different result, and the IOC said the decision was made with regret.
“As you have all seen over the last few days, we have allowed Vladyslav to wear his helmet in training,” Coventry said. “No one, no one – especially me – disagrees with the message. The message is powerful. It’s a message of remembrance. It’s a message of remembrance and no one disagrees with that. The challenge we faced is that we wanted to find a solution just for the field of play.”
Heraskevych said he would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but the race continued without him. The first two descents were on Thursday, the last two on Friday. Regardless of what CAS decides, your chance to compete in these Games is over. The IOC is allowing him to keep his credential, meaning he can remain in the Olympics as an athlete – but not as a competitor.
The decision drew immediate condemnation from authorities in Ukraine. “Sport should not mean amnesia, and the Olympic movement should help end wars, not play into the hands of aggressors,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on social media. “Unfortunately, the International Olympic Committee’s decision to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych says otherwise.”
