The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has barred Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing at the Olympics in a helmet bearing photos of Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia.
On Monday, the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine asked organizers of the Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo Games to allow the athlete to use the helmet, saying it “fully complied with safety requirements and did not violate IOC rules.”
“It contains no advertising, political slogans or discriminatory elements and was confirmed as compliant with established standards during official training,” the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee said.
However, on Tuesday IOC spokesperson Mark Adams told a news conference the helmet allegedly ran afoul of the rules.
“The IOC fully understands the desire of athletes to honor friends who died during this conflict,” Adams said. “He did this during training and expressed his feelings on social media.”
Adams added the committee had agreed to make an exception and allow Heraskevych to wear a black armband in memory of the dead.
Despite the ban, Heraskevych wore the helmet at a second official training session.
“Today there was an IOC press conference. And I can say that I do not agree with this decision, because I sincerely believe that we did not break any rules. Rule 50, concerning political propaganda, discrimination or racial propaganda, has nothing to do with this helmet. As you can see, all these athletes were killed, but their voice is so loud that it can really be heard,” Heraskevych said.
“There are 24 people on this helmet, but in total more than 500 Ukrainian athletes have been killed as a result of Russian aggression. They cannot compete at these Olympic Games. And I believe that if not for their self-sacrifice, the war could have been in Europe. I truly believe that we are here and we can enjoy these competitions thanks to their self-sacrifice. I believe they deserve to be here with me. I am not betraying these athletes. My plan is to use this helmet in all trainings, as well as on competition day,” the Ukrainian athlete emphasized.
Heraskevych also noted that the IOC does not have enough armbands to honor all Ukrainian athletes killed as a result of the war.
Heraskevych placed portraits on his helmet of Ukrainian athletes who were killed in the war, including figure skater Dmitry Sharpar (killed in fighting near Bakhmut) and 19-year-old biathlete Yevgeny Malyshev (killed near Kharkiv).
Also on the helmet are 14-year-old weightlifter Alina Peregudova (killed in Mariupol), 20-year-old dancer Daria Kurdel (killed in shelling in the Mykolaiv region), all‑around athlete Pavel Ishchenko, athlete and actor Ivan Kononenko, hockey player Alexei Loginov, diver Nikita Kozubenko and shooter Alexei Khabarov (all of whom died at the front in the ranks of Ukraine’s Armed Forces).
“Some of them were also members of the Olympic movement, the Olympic family; some were just children who came under Russian shelling. These were people who had been closely connected with sports all their lives, rooted for us, were our friends… Some of them were my friends,” Heraskevych noted.
