Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych will not be allowed to wear a "helmet of remembrance" in honour of those killed in the war with Russia in the skeleton competition at the Winter Games, the International Olympic Committee said on Tuesday, adding that it would allow the Ukrainian flag bearer to wear a black armband instead.
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| Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych's wore the helmet during a training session in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. © Franck Fife, AFP |
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday said Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych could wear a black armband at the Winter Olympics instead of a banned helmet that features Ukrainians killed in the war with Russia.
Spokesperson Mark Adams said the helmet contravened IOC guidelines about political symbols but said it would "make an exception to the guidelines to allow him to wear a black armband during competition to make that commemoration".
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier defended the Olympian's right to wear a helmet featuring athletes killed during the war with Russia, thanking him in a post on X.
"I thank the flag bearer of our national team at the Winter Olympics, Vladyslav Heraskevych, for reminding the world of the price of our struggle," Zelensky said on X.
"This truth cannot be inconvenient, inappropriate or called a 'political demonstration at a sporting event.' It is a reminder to the entire world of what modern Russia is," the president added.
Heraskevych wore the helmet during a training session in Cortina and had intended to use the Games in Italy to help maintain international pressure on Russia.
The 27-year-old said in a social media post on Monday that the International Olympic Committee had banned his custom helmet from training and competition.
Heraskevych, who was Ukraine's flag bearer, said the decision "simply breaks my heart".
Gestures of a political nature on the medal podium have been forbidden since 2021 under article 50 of the Olympic Charter but athletes are permitted to express their views in press conferences and on social media.
Ukrainian Sports Minister Matviy Bidnyi told AFP this month that Russia has killed "more than 650 athletes and coaches", according to the latest data.
In various social media videos, Heraskevych has said the images represent only a fraction of the athletes killed since the full‑scale invasion and include Olympians and Youth Olympic medallists, such as his former teammate, figure skater Dmytro Sharpar.
At the head of a delegation of 46 athletes, Heraskevych marched in Milan last week as his country's flag bearer at the opening ceremony, alongside speed skater Yelyzaveta Sydorko.
He will be competing at his third Winter Games.
- FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters
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