Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych has been banned from the Milan/Cortina Olympics because he wanted to wear a helmet in a skeleton competition to commemorate athletes killed in the war with Russia.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Kirsty Coventry made a last-ditch effort to change Hraskevich’s mind when he met with him at the Cortina d’Ampezzo skating center about an hour before the start of the competition on Thursday, but failed to change his mind.
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The International Olympic Committee does not allow any form of political speech at the competition site. It offered a compromise solution that would allow skaters to wear black armbands, but Hraskovic didn’t want to back down and wanted to wear a helmet during competition.
“Ukraine’s skeleton pilot Vladilsav Hraskovic was given one last chance, but he will not be able to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina this morning,” the International Olympic Committee said in a statement.
“This decision follows his refusal to comply with the International Olympic Committee’s Guidelines for Athlete Expression. The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) jury made this decision based on the fact that the helmet he intended to wear did not comply with the rules.”
The International Olympic Committee said Hraskevich’s Olympic certification had been revoked and IBSF president Ivo Ferriani told the dpa news agency: “He will not start, that’s the rule.”
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The IOC continued: “Despite numerous exchanges and face-to-face meetings between the IOC and Mr Hraskevich, the last of which was this morning with IOC President Kirsty Coventry, he has not considered any form of compromise.
“The IOC is very keen for Mr Hraskevich to compete. That is why the IOC sat down with him to find the most respectful way to fulfill his wishes in memory of fellow athletes who lost their lives following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The essence of the case is not about the message, but about the message he wanted to express.
“Mr Hraskovic is able to display his helmet during all training sessions. The IOC has also given him the option to display his helmet immediately after a game when passing through the mixed zone.”
Hraskovic’s helmet bears pictures of about 20 athletes, including Youth Olympic medalists who were killed in the Russian attack. The design pays tribute to colleagues in the sporting world who lost their lives in the war.
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He applied to the International Olympic Committee to wear it but was rejected earlier this week. Hraskevich did not bow, and the IOC said he reiterated on Thursday morning that he planned to wear a helmet.
The IOC said: “After arriving at the competition venue this morning, Mr Hraskevich met with IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who explained the IOC’s position to him for the last time. As in previous private meetings, he refused to change his position.”
The IOC pointed to the rules it developed with the athlete community regarding political messages at the Olympics.
The Olympic body said all athletes must be able to compete in a safe environment, free from the various conflicts around the world.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European political leaders have backed Hraskevich, who finished fourth at last year’s world championships.
