Who is Vladyslav Heraskevych?
Vladyslav Heraskevych, from Kyiv, became Ukraine’s first Olympic skeleton competitor in Pyeongchang 2018 and also raced in Beijing 2022. After his third run in Beijing he held up a sign reading “No war in Ukraine” for cameras; Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine 13 days later. Since then he has used his sport to highlight the suffering in Ukraine and to press for tighter sanctions on Russian sport. He was one of Ukraine’s flag bearers at the Milano Cortina opening ceremony. Heraskevych finished 12th in 2018 and 18th in 2022, and some had suggested he might be among the medal contenders this time.
What is his dispute with the IOC about?
Heraskevych wanted to wear his “helmet of remembrance” in both training and competition. The helmet displays images of Ukrainian athletes killed during Russia’s war on Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said the helmet breached Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which bans demonstrations or political, religious or racial propaganda at Olympic sites and venues.
The IOC announced his disqualification shortly before his scheduled race, saying the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation jury acted after he refused to follow the IOC’s Guidelines on Athlete Expression and that the helmet was not compliant with the rules. The IOC Athletes’ Commission guidelines, published in 2020, say athletes may express political views at press conferences, in mixed zones, at team meetings, on social media or through media outlets—but not during competition. IOC spokesman Mark Adams said: “There are 130 conflicts going on in the world. We cannot have 130 different conflicts featured, however terrible they are, during the field of play, during the actual competition.” Heraskevych is therefore allowed to express his views outside of competition but not while racing.
How have similar incidents been treated?
Some athletes have displayed personal tributes without penalty. US figure skater Maxim Naumov showed a photo of his parents after his short program in Milan without objection, and German weightlifter Matthias Steiner famously held up a photo of his late wife after winning in Beijing 2008. The IOC says those cases are not comparable under the current rules; Adams described Naumov’s gesture as “very emotional, very human, spontaneous” and said the Ukrainian athlete could express himself outside the field of play.
What happens to Heraskevych now?
The IOC initially said he had been stripped of his accreditation and had to leave the Olympic Village, but later rescinded that decision at the request of IOC President Kirsty Coventry. Heraskevych told reporters: “It’s hard to say or put into words. It’s emptiness.” Although he could no longer compete, he appealed the decision to the Court of Administration for Sport, which heard his case.
What have the reactions been?
Heraskevych received support from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who wrote on X that the decision contradicted the spirit of the Games: “Sport shouldn’t mean amnesia, and the Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play into the hands of aggressors.” Coventry was visibly emotional when discussing the ruling, saying she had hoped for a solution that would allow him to race. Germany’s three-time Olympic luge champion Felix Loch said he regretted the outcome but noted the rules are clear, adding that the matter had received more attention because of the decision.
Heraskevych, active on social media, posted a photo of himself wearing the helmet with the caption: “This is price of our dignity.”
This article was originally published in German and updated after Heraskevych was formally disqualified on February 12.
