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Ukrainian athlete defied IOC, disqualified

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Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych defied an IOC ban by wearing a helmet commemorating athletes killed in Russia’s invasion at the Winter Olympics and faced disqualification.

Die Zeit
Winter Olympics: Take off the helmet! When the Olympics meet politics

A Ukrainian athlete is not allowed to wear a helmet at the Olympic Games that memorializes a murdered athlete. How does the IOC justify this? And: a mass shooting in Canada.

Winter Olympics: Take off the helmet! When the Olympics meet politics
Reposts 1 3h
Der Spiegel
Olympics 2026: Dispute over the helmet of a Ukrainian skeleton racer

The Ukrainian Wladislaw Heraskewytsch wants to wear a helmet to remind athletes killed in Russia's war of aggression. The IOC forbids it. The athlete says: If in doubt, I will forgo a medal.

Olympics 2026: Dispute over the helmet of a Ukrainian skeleton racer
Reposts 0 3h
Süddeutsche Zeitung
Ukrainian sports minister in interview: 'The ban is not fair'

The Ukrainian sports minister Matwij Bidnyj speaks about the handling of skeleton racer Wladyslaw Heraskewytsch and makes clear what Russia's return to organized sport would mean for his country.

Ukrainian sports minister in interview: 'The ban is not fair'
Reposts 0 4h
Süddeutsche Zeitung
Ukrainian sports minister in interview: 'The ban is not fair'

The Ukrainian sports minister Matwij Bidnyj speaks about the handling of skeleton racer Wladyslaw Heraskewytsch and makes clear what Russia's return to organized sport would mean for his country.

Ukrainian sports minister in interview: 'The ban is not fair'
Reposts 2 4h
The Guardian
Ukrainian skeleton athlete urged by IOC to ditch helmet protest or face Olympics ban

Heraskevych faces potential disqualification Athlete calls situation ‘theater of the absurd’ The Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych has been warned that he faces disqualification from the Winter Olympics if he wears a “helmet of memory” for his country’s war dead when the men’s competition starts on Thursday. Heraskevych has continued to practise in the helmet, which shows 20 images of athletes and children killed since Russia’s invasion, despite the IOC banning it on Monday. In a post on X, published on Wednesday, Heraskevych indicated that he has no intention of backing down and called on the IOC to approve his helmet for the competition. Continue reading. . .

Ukrainian skeleton athlete urged by IOC to ditch helmet protest or face Olympics ban
Reposts 13 6h
NRC
Oekraïense skeletonracer Heraskevytsj negeert verbod en wil helm dragen als eerbetoon aan in oorlog gedode sporters

De Oekraïense skeletonracer Vladyslav Heraskevytsj is toch van plan een helm te dragen met daarop beeltenissen van Oekraïnse sporters die zijn gedood tijdens de Russische invasie.

Oekraïense skeletonracer Heraskevytsj negeert verbod en wil helm dragen als eerbetoon aan in oorlog gedode sporters
Reposts 3 8h
La Repubblica
The helmet dispute involving Ukraine's fallen athletes: Kyiv rejects IOC ban

The helmet dispute involving Ukraine's fallen athletes: Kyiv rejects IOC ban. During the fifth skeleton training, flag bearer Heraskevych wore protective gear that, according to the Olympic Committee, violated propaganda rules. But the Ukrainians are taking a hard line. Skeleton racer Smaha wears a glove bearing the words 'Remembrance is not a violation.'

Reposts 2 9h
To Vima
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych accused the IOC of betraying the dead Ukrainian athletes

The skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych accused the IOC of betraying the dead Ukrainian athletes.

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych accused the IOC of betraying the dead Ukrainian athletes
Reposts 0 11h

Reposted by Lithuania

13%

by Amir Attaran

5%
amirattaran.bsky.social
If the Olympic Committee learned anything after Hitler’s Berlin Olympics of 1936, they keep it very well hidden.
Ukrainian Olympian Says He’ll Race With Banned Helmet Honoring War Dead
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 10:13 PM

by Laurent Dubois

3%
soccerpolitics.bsky.social
The Haitian delegation is now in good company in terms of the suppression of images on their uniforms.
theathletic.com The Athletic @theathletic.com · 1d
The International Olympic Committee has told a Ukrainian skeleton athlete he cannot wear a helmet that commemorates the lives of Ukrainian athletes lost since Russia’s invasion in competition at the Winter Games, saying it breaks Olympic rules on neutrality.
February 10, 2026 at 8:16 PM
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