Ukrainian Skeleton Athlete Defies IOC Ban on Memorial Helmet

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, 27, has declared his intention to wear a helmet bearing the faces of teammates killed in the Russia-Ukraine war during competition. He has made clear he will not accept a compromise from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which banned the helmet but offered to allow a black mourning armband instead.

Heraskevych held a press conference near the Cortina Sliding Centre in Italy on the 10th (local time), stating "I cannot betray them" and emphasizing his determination to wear the helmet during competition.

"I believe the victims deserve to be with me on race day. I will wear the memorial helmet during training and on race day as well," he said. "This should be a time when I'm thinking about how to perform better and focus on the track, but right now I'm fighting for the right to wear the memorial helmet."

Heraskevych drew attention during training on the 9th when he completed practice runs wearing the memorial helmet.

Earlier, when Heraskevych announced he would wear the helmet during both practice and actual competition, the IOC notified him it was not permitted, citing Article 50.2 of the Olympic Charter, which states that "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas."

Following consultations with the Ukrainian government, the IOC agreed to exceptionally allow the wearing of a black mourning armband instead of the helmet.