Ukrainian athlete disqualified from Olympics over helmet tribute

In a widely commented move, the International Olympic Committee on Thursday announced the disqualification of Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from the Milan-Cortina Winter Games.

Vladyslav Heraskevych

EPA/ANDREA SOLERO

The decision was attributed to a helmet he wore honouring fellow Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia during its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

NOC of Ukraine supports skeleton pilot Heraskevych https://t.co/2oKS4DnQCF pic.twitter.com/5tIzcEwfnf

— Ukrinform-EN (@Ukrinform_News) February 12, 2026

Geraskevych: "Everyone knows we are on the right side. I did not break any rules."

The Ukrainian athlete plans to go to arbitration court and seek the cancellation of the IOC’s disqualification decision.

He was disqualified for using his helmet to remind the world about the… pic.twitter.com/byVBHIKC1a

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 12, 2026

Marcin Matuszewski reports...

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