Just minutes before his skeleton run at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from competition because of the helmet he intended to wear.
Heraskevych’s helmet featured portraits of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed during Russia’s invasion—a personal tribute he called a “helmet of remembrance.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) ruled that it violated Olympic guidelines, which prohibit political, religious, or demonstrative expressions during competition.
Officials offered compromises, such as racing with a neutral helmet, but Heraskevych refused, insisting on keeping the tribute intact.
The disqualification occurred roughly 45 minutes before he was scheduled to compete, despite his status as a strong contender. The incident sparked widespread debate about the balance between personal expression and Olympic neutrality rules. Supporters argued that his helmet was a human tribute, not a political statement, while officials maintained consistency with the rules.
After the disqualification, Heraskevych received significant support in Ukraine, including $200,000 from a businessman, meant to help him continue his athletic career and advocacy work.
The situation highlighted the tension in international sports between:
Athletes expressing personal meaning or remembrance, and
Maintaining strict neutrality to keep competition free of political messaging.
For Heraskevych, the helmet that was meant to honor fallen compatriots instead became a focal point of controversy—but it also sparked a global conversation about the limits of expression on the Olympic stage.