Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Geraskevych was banned from using a special helmet with images of deceased Ukrainian athletes during official training and competitions at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The athlete announced this on his Instagram page.
According to the athlete, he demonstrated the helmet during his first training sessions on the Olympic track. The equipment featured portraits of Ukrainian athletes who died as a result of the Russian war.
The International Olympic Committee banned the use of this helmet, citing the rules on the neutrality of sports symbols.
"The IOC prohibits the use of my helmet in official training and competitions. A decision that is simply heartbreaking. The feeling that the IOC is betraying those athletes who were part of the Olympic movement by not giving them the opportunity to honor them in the sports arena," Geraskevych wrote.
He stressed that the IOC had previously allowed similar tributes to the memory of athletes in other countries, but this time, in his opinion, certain restrictions were applied to Ukraine. The skeletonist said that he was preparing an official request to the committee and planned to defend the right to compete in this particular helmet.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also reacted to the situation. He noted that the helmet depicts portraits of Ukrainian athletes killed by Russia, including figure skater Dmytro Sharpar, who died in the fighting near Bakhmut, and 19-year-old biathlete Yevhen Malyshev, who was killed by the occupiers near Kharkiv.
"Thank you to the standard-bearer of our national team, Vladislav Geraskevych, for reminding the world of the price of our struggle. This truth cannot be inconvenient or called a 'political action.' This is a reminder to the whole world of what modern Russia is," the head of state said.
The President emphasized that the mission of the Olympic movement is to protect peace and life, and this is precisely what, in his opinion, the initiative of the Ukrainian athlete speaks about.
The helmet ban story has already caused a stir in the sports community and on social media. Many Ukrainians viewed the IOC's decision as unfair and one that limits the right to honor the memory of the dead.
