Winter Olympics 2026: Why was Ukrainian star Vladyslav Heraskevych disqualified?
(Courtesy : @heraskevych/Twitter)
IOC has banned Vladyslav Heraskevych minutes before race, citing political expression rules.
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 on February 12, just minutes before the men’s skeleton competition began at the Cortina Sliding Centre.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled that his custom “helmet of remembrance”, featuring images of 24 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed during Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine violated the Olympic Charter’s guidelines on athlete expression, which prohibit political, religious, or racial demonstrations on the field of play.
Heraskevych, Ukraine’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony and a strong medal contender, wore the helmet during training sessions earlier in the week, drawing IOC warnings.
The helmet honored fallen compatriots, including figures like teenage weightlifter Alina Peregudova, boxer Pavlo Ishchenko, and others who died since the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion.
The IOC emphasized that while the message of remembrance was powerful and not disputed in principle, the competition venue must remain free of such expressions to avoid chaos amid global conflicts. The decision, enforced by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) jury, led to Heraskevych’s accreditation withdrawal for competition.
“I am disqualified from the race. I will not get my Olympic moment. They were killed, but their voice is so loud that the IOC is afraid of them. I told Coventry that this decision plays along with Russia’s narrative.
I sincerely believe that it is precisely because of their sacrifice that these Olympic Games can take place at all today. Even though the IOC wants to betray the memory of these athletes, I will not betray them”, the athlete responded.
Ukrainian leaders reacted strongly. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on X that the IOC should help stop wars rather than side with aggressors, praising Heraskevych’s courage as worth more than any medal. The foreign minister called it a “moment of shame” for the IOC, arguing Russians and not not victims’ memorials must face bans.
Which athlete has been banned by International Olympics Committee (IOC) at Winter Olympics 2026?
Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 by the IOC.
Why was Vladyslav Heraskevych disqualified from Winter Olympics 2026?
The Ukraine athlete was disqualified for violating the Olympic guidelines on athlete expression, which prohibits political, religious or racial demonstrations on the field of play.
What did Vladyslav Heraskevych do led to his disqualification from Winter Olympics 2026?
Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was Ukraine’s flag-bearer at the opening ceremony, wore a helmet gear that featured images of 24 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed during Russia’s expansion on the country.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.