Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych disqualified from 2026 Winter Olympics

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the 2026 Milano/Cortina Winter Olympics for refusing to remove a helmet featuring images of 24 fallen Ukrainian athletes. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled that the helmet violated Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits political protests and slogans on the field of play. IOC official Kirsty Coventry stated that despite last-minute mediation efforts, a solution could not be reached to allow the helmet during competition. The IOC had proposed a compromise where Heraskevych could display the helmet before or after the race and wear a black armband during the event, but this was rejected. Ukraine's Sports Minister, Matvii Bidnyi, labeled the decision unfair, arguing that honoring dead athletes is a matter of neutrality rather than political unrest. Despite the disqualification, Bidnyi confirmed that Ukraine would not boycott the Games, although the country plans to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Heraskevych, who served as Ukraine's flagbearer during the opening ceremony, expressed deep disappointment at missing his competitive moment.