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The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, tore into the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday after an athlete was disqualified for wearing a hat in honor of the victims of the war with Russia.
The IOC said Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych’s decision to continue wearing a helmet that honored more than 20 athletes and coaches who died in combat violated the organization’s policy against making political statements in the arena.
This decision caused a huge backlash among Ukrainian athletes.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint news conference with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
“Sports should not mean forgetting, and the Olympic organization should help stop wars, not play into the hands of the aggressors,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media. “Unfortunately, the decision of the International Olympic Committee to disqualify the Ukrainian skeleton race Vladyslav Heraskevych says otherwise. This is certainly not about the principles of Olympism, which is based on impartiality and support for peace.
“I thank our athlete for his clear stance. His helmet, which carries the photos of dead Ukrainian athletes, speaks of respect and remembrance. It is a reminder to the whole world of what Russian aggression is and the cost of fighting for independence. And in this case, no law has been broken.”
Zelenskyy blamed Russia for violating “Olympic principles” and its ongoing wars with neighboring nations, including his own.
Russian and Belarusian athletes are allowed to compete under a neutral flag at the Olympics.
Vladyslav Heraskevych from Ukraine, with his hat, which has pictures of people killed in the war with Russia. Heraskevych was disqualified from the Men’s Skeleton event by the International Olympic Committee just an hour before the start of the competition, pictured at the Cortina Sliding Centre, on day six of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Italy on Feb. 12, 2026. (Photos by Andrew Milligan/PA via Getty Images)
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“And now, in 2026, despite repeated calls for a ceasefire during the Winter Olympics, Russia is showing complete indifference, increasing missile and drone strikes on our energy infrastructure and our people,” Zelenskyy continued.
“660 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed by Russia since the start of the all-out invasion. Hundreds of our athletes will no longer be able to take part in the Olympic Games or any other international competitions. However, 13 Russians are currently in Italy competing in the Olympics. They are competing under ‘neutral’ flags at the Games, while they are facing our Russian Ukrainian public challenge in real life. And they deserve it. withdrawal.
“We are proud of Vladyslav and what he did. Courage is more important than any medal.”
Heraskevych met with IOC President Kirsty Coventry before competing in the first official competition in skeleton. He said they couldn’t “find something they could agree on.”
Heraskevych received word from the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation (IBSF), saying the helmet “does not comply with the Olympic Charter and Guidelines on Athlete Expression.” The IOC gave him permission, including wearing a black belt or the ability to reveal a helmet on the ice.
“I believe that, seriously, the IBSF and the IOC understand that I am not breaking any rules,” said Heraskevych. “And, I can say (sadly) that it looks like it’s really discrimination because many athletes were already expressing themselves. … They didn’t face the same things. So, suddenly, the only Ukrainian athlete in this Olympic Games will be stripped of his helmet.”
Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych reaches the finish line during the men’s skeleton training at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
The IOC expressed “regret” over the decision.
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“As you have seen in the last few days, we have allowed Vladyslav to use a helmet in training,” said Coventry, who has tears in his eyes when talking to reporters. “There is no one, no one – especially me – who disagrees with the messages. The messages are a powerful message. A message of remembrance. A message of memory and no one is against that. The challenge we are facing is that we wanted to ask or come up with a solution for the gaming sector only.”
