Ukrainian disqualified from Winter Games for helmet depicting athletes killed in Russia war
Skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was kicked out after Olympic body unable to find compromise solution, Ukraine plans to appeal to CAS
Ukraine skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was kicked off the Winter Games on Thursday over his “helmet of remembrance” depicting athletes killed since Russia’s invasion despite a personal appeal from the International Olympic Committee head.
The 27-year-old, who had been training in Italy with the helmet showing two dozen dead compatriots, was barred and stripped of his accreditation minutes before competition was due to start at the sliding venue.
“I am disqualified from the race. I will not get my Olympic moment,” said Heraskevych. “They were killed, but their voice is so loud that the IOC is afraid of them.”
His team said they would appeal against the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
IOC president Kirsty Coventry met Heraskevych before the decision and choked up with tears when telling reporters how she was unable to broker a solution.
“I thought it was really important to come here and talk to him face-to-face,” she said. “No one, especially me, is disagreeing with the messaging; it’s a powerful message, it’s a message of remembrance, of memory.”