The IOC has disqualified Ukrainian skeleton racer Geraskevich from the Olympics: what is the issue?

Before the start of one of the most intense events of the Winter Olympics, a Ukrainian athlete found himself at the centre of an international scandal. The IOC's decision came at the last minute and deprived Vladyslav Heraskevych of the chance to compete. Find out what caused the disqualification and what position the International Olympic Committee took

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Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was suspended from participating in the 2026 Winter Olympics just before the first race. The athlete did not start, despite being ready for the competition and having completed training.

What happened?

Heraskevych planned to compete wearing a so-called ‘memorial helmet’ — with images of Ukrainian athletes who died as a result of Russian aggression. However, just before the start of the first race, it became known that the Ukrainian would not be allowed to start.

The decision to exclude him was made because his equipment did not meet the requirements of the International Olympic Committee. Thus, the skeleton competition took place without the participation of a representative from Ukraine.

The IOC's position

On the eve of the competition, the IOC officially banned the use of helmets with memorial images both in training and during races. The committee referred to the current rules of neutrality, which prohibit any political, symbolic or memorial displays in the Olympic arena.

The athlete was warned that if he ignored the ban, he would be disqualified. After he refused to change his equipment, sanctions were applied.

The final decision was made by the jury of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation, which deemed the helmet to be in violation of competition regulations. As a result, the 2026 Winter Olympics ended for the Ukrainian athlete before they had even officially begun.

The IOC's official statement emphasises that the committee ‘regrettably’ revoked Heraskevych's accreditation. The document also states that there were numerous consultations and personal meetings between the IOC and the athlete, including negotiations on the day of the start with IOC President Kirsten Coventry.

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‘It's not about the gesture, it's about the place’

The IOC statement specifically notes that the organisation sought to find a compromise solution that would allow the athlete to participate in the competition while respecting his desire to honour the memory of his fallen colleagues. However, according to the committee, Geraskevich refused to consider any alternative forms of expression.

‘The essence of this case is not in the gesture itself, but in where he wanted to express it,’ the IOC's official position states.

What the athlete's team says

‘This is a disqualification of democracy for the sake of private interests, due to emotional pressure from Russian sponsors,’ said the athlete's coach and father, Mykhailo Heraskevych, in a comment to Suspilne.

"Ms Coventry, the newly elected IOC president, tried to convince us that displaying athletes killed by Russia would create chaos in the Olympic movement. That it was wrong and would interfere with the celebration [of the Olympics]. But it seemed strange, because the whole world saw this helmet. She suggested that I hold it at the start, and Vlad would ski in some other helmet — it's unclear which one, because Vlad is not used to it. And then I would give this helmet to Vlad. It was like a trade, of course, which is unacceptable, because the memory of Ukrainian heroes cannot be sold, and he would never agree to that.

Visit Ukraine expresses its sincere support for Vladislav Geraskevich and admires his unwavering patriotic stance on the international stage. As a token of gratitude for his courage in reminding the world of the price of freedom, the company is providing the athlete with extreme risk insurance until the end of the ski season. We want professionals of this level to be able to focus entirely on their sport, feeling protected from unforeseen circumstances.

In addition, Vladislav will receive branded Visit Ukraine merchandise as a symbol of solidarity and shared identity. 💙💛💪

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Reminder! We previously reported that the Winter Olympics in Italy began with a record number of disciplines and an updated competition program. The Games in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo have become one of the largest in the history of the Winter Olympics, and the Ukrainian team is represented in several key sports. Find out in which disciplines Ukrainian athletes will compete and who are the main hopes for the 2026 Olympics in our article.

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