Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych out of Olympic Games over banned helmet

'The International Olympic Committee destroyed our dreams,' said Mykhailo Heraskevych, the slider’s coach and father. 'It’s not fair.'

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, a likely medal contender at the Winter Olympics, was barred from racing Thursday after refusing a last-minute plea from the International Olympic Committee to not use a helmet that honours more than 20 athletes and coaches killed in his country’s war with Russia.

The decision came roughly 45 minutes before the start of the competition and ended a three-day saga where Heraskevych knew he was risking being pulled from the Games by wearing the helmet, one that the IOC says breaks rules against making statements on the field of play.

The International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation said his decision to wear the helmet was “inconsistent with the Olympic Charter and Guidelines on Athlete Expression.”

He wore the helmet in training, but the IOC asked for him to wear a different helmet in races. It offered concessions, such as wearing a black armband or letting him display the helmet once he was off the ice.

“I believe, deeply, the IBSF and IOC understand that I’m not violating any rules,” Heraskevych said.

“Also, I would say (it’s) painful that it really looks like discrimination because many athletes already were expressing themselves. … They didn’t face the same things. So, suddenly, just the Ukrainian athlete in this Olympic Games will be disqualified for the helmet.”

IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who was slated to be in Cortina d’Ampezzo to see Alpine skiing, went to the sliding center instead to meet Heraskevych.

She was waiting at the top of the track when he arrived around 8:15 a.m., and they met privately. After about 10 minutes, Coventry was unable to change Heraskevych’s mind.