Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych pushed at the limits of the International Olympic Committee’s rules on freedom of expression, and the global sports body pushed back

The International Olympic Committee banned Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing in the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after Heraskevych refused to refrain from racing in a helmet that honors athletes killed in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

A Ukrainian skeleton racer’s disqualification from the Milan-Cortina Games follows many Olympic athletes who were penalized for protest gestures. On Thursday Vladyslav Heraskevych was barred before his competition for wearing a helmet featuring images of athletes killed in the war against Russia since Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych is allowed to wear a black armband at the Milan Cortina Olympics but the IOC says he cannot wear a helmet painted to honor Ukrainian athletes killed in

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blasted the IOC on Thursday after one of the country's athletes was disqualified over his helmet tribue.

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych will not competeafter refusing a last-minute plea from the IOC to use a helmet other than the one that honors more than 20 of his country's athletes and coaches killed in the war with Russia.

The IOC has withdrawn Ukrainian skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych from competition after he refused to comply with athlete expression rules banning messaging on the field of play. His helmet featured portraits of athletes killed in Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Ukrainian Olympic athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was out of the 2026 Winter Olympics over a helmet honoring athletes and coaches killed in the war with Russia.