Ukrainian skeleton racer, Vladyslav Heraskevych, has declared he will defy the International Olympic Committee and compete wearing a helmet that pays tribute to athletes killed during the war in Ukraine.
The IOC had previously expressed understanding of Heraskevych’s intentions but stated that the helmet “contravenes” its rules regarding political statements.
The organization offered an alternative: allowing him to wear a black armband in commemoration instead.
At a press conference, Heraskevych confirmed he would proceed with the helmet regardless of IOC guidelines.
“Yes,” the slider said when asked if he would defy the IOC’s decision. “If the IOC betrays these athletes, I will not betray them.”
He later confirmed to CNN’s Amanda Davies that he would wear the helmet in competition. The 27-year-old had already used it during a Winter Olympics skeleton training session in Cortina d’Ampezzo on Monday.
The helmet honors seven Ukrainian athletes who lost their lives: weightlifter Alina Perehudova, boxer Pavlo Ischenko, ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov, actor and athlete Ivan Kononenko, diver and coach Mykyta Kozubenko, shooter Oleksiy Habarov, and dancer Daria Kurdel.
In a video posted on social media following the training session, Heraskevych shared that IOC representative Toshio Tsurunaga had visited the Athletes’ Village to deliver the decision.
“A decision that simply breaks my heart. The feeling that the IOC is betraying those athletes who were part of the Olympic movement, not allowing them to be honored on the sports arena where these athletes will never be able to step again,” he said.
“Despite precedents in modern times and in the past when the IOC allowed such tributes, this time they decided to set special rules just for Ukraine.”
Heraskevych told Reuters that the IOC’s refusal is based on Rule 50, which states: “no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”
The IOC clarified that violations of Rule 50 will be reviewed “by their respective National Olympic Committee, International Federation and the IOC, and disciplinary action will be taken on a case-by-case basis as necessary.”
Ukraine’s Olympic Committee said Tuesday that it had formally requested for Heraskevych to wear “a helmet of remembrance” at the Games.
“The helmet was created to honor Ukrainian athletes killed while defending Ukraine or who became victims of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine,” the Committee said.
“The NOC of Ukraine emphasizes that it fully complies with safety requirements and IOC rules, does not contain advertising, political slogans, or discriminatory elements, and was confirmed as meeting the established standards during official training sessions.”
IOC spokesman Mark Adams acknowledged the request but maintained that the helmet should not be permitted.
“We received the formal request to wear the helmet in competition this morning. The IOC fully understands the desire of athletes to remember friends and colleague that have lost their lives in conflict,” Adams said.
“There was an informal meeting last night with Mr. Heraskevych’s coach and his delegation and we reiterated our understanding of the athlete wishing to pay tribute to his fellow Ukrainian athletes. … The Games need to be separated from not only political and religious, but from all types of interference so that all athletes can concentrate on their performance.
“He has done that in training and on social media, he has expressed his feelings, but what we have said is this helmet contravenes the … guidelines.”
Adams added that the IOC would allow Heraskevych to wear a black armband instead, calling it “a good compromise.”
Ahead of the Games, Heraskevych said he would use the Olympics as a platform to keep Ukraine in the global spotlight and hinted that protests could occur.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the athlete for wearing the helmet, tweeting, “This truth cannot be inconvenient, inappropriate, or called a ‘political demonstration at a sporting event.’ It is a reminder to the whole world of what modern Russia is.
“And this is what reminds everyone of the global role of sports and the historic mission of the Olympic movement itself – it is all about peace and for the sake of life. Ukraine remains faithful to this. Russia proves otherwise.”
The IOC has cleared 13 Russian and 7 Belarusian athletes to participate as Individual Neutral Athletes in the Winter Games.
Heraskevych first drew global attention four years ago at the Beijing Olympics when he held up a “No War in Ukraine” banner in protest of the impending Russian invasion.
