- Category
- Latest news
“It Breaks My Heart”: IOC Bans Ukrainian Skeleton Racer’s Tribute Helmet Honoring Fallen Athletes
- Authors
![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
International Olympic Committee (IOC) has barred Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from wearing a helmet depicting Ukrainian athletes killed as a result of Russia’s invasion during official training sessions and competitions ahead of the Winter Olympics in Italy.
“The IOC has banned the use of my helmet at official training sessions and competitions. A decision that simply breaks my heart,” Heraskevych wrote on Instagram on February 10.
We bring you stories from the ground. Your support keeps our team in the field.
The athlete said the helmet was intended as a message to the international community and as a tribute to Ukrainian athletes who were part of the Olympic movement but “will never again be able to step onto a sporting arena.”
“It feels like the IOC is betraying those athletes who were part of the Olympic movement by denying the opportunity to honor them on the sports stage,” he said.
Heraskevych added that the decision runs counter to past IOC practice, noting that similar acts of commemoration have been permitted both historically and in recent years.
“Despite precedents in modern times and in the past, when the IOC allowed such commemorations, this time special rules were set for Ukraine,” he said.
As of now, Heraskevych and his team are preparing a formal appeal to the International Olympic Committee and plan to contest the ban.
At the same time, Ukraine’s National Olympic Committee has formally appealed to the IOC to allow Ukrainian skeleton racer and national team flag bearer Vladyslav Heraskevych to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan–Cortina wearing a special “helmet of remembrance.”
“The helmet was created to honor Ukrainian athletes who were killed while defending Ukraine or who became victims of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine. The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine emphasizes that it fully complies with safety requirements and IOC rules, contains no advertising, political slogans, or discriminatory elements, and was confirmed as meeting established standards during official training sessions,” the committee wrote.
The committee also expressed hope for a fair and impartial decision by the International Olympic Committee. In the context of Russia’s ongoing full-scale war against Ukraine, the NOC said allowing the helmet would be “an important sign of recognition of the memory of Ukrainian athletes and support for the Ukrainian nation.”
Earlier, several biathletes competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy spoke out in support of Ukrainians affected by large-scale power outages caused by Russian attacks during the Games.
Athletes representing France, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Italy raised the issue after Ukraine’s mixed relay team finished in the top eight on the opening day of Olympic biathlon competition.
-7f54d6f9a1e9b10de9b3e7ee663a18d9.png)
