The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has revoked the accreditation of Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, preventing him from competing at the Thursday start.
The decision was based on the fact that the helmet Heraskevych wished to wear did not comply with IOC guidelines on athlete expression. The helmet would have displayed portraits of Ukrainian athletes who were killed in Russia’s war of aggression.
The IOC had earlier sought a compromise: it would have allowed Heraskevych to wear the helmet during all training runs and to display it immediately after the competition when passing through the “Mixed Zone”. However, the committee notes that grief is expressed and perceived differently around the world.
Heraskevych offered only a brief response to the IOC’s ruling, writing in social media, “This is the price of our dignity”. In a previous video message, he insisted that he had never wanted a scandal with the IOC and that he had not caused it. He claims the IOC’s interpretation of the rules has created a situation many view as discriminatory.
In a last-ditch appeal, the athlete urged the IOC to provide power generators to Ukrainian sports facilities, which are under daily bombardment, as a gesture of solidarity.