Ukrainian Skeleton Athlete's Tribute Helmet Barred from Olympic Competition
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy ― Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, who serves as his country's flag bearer at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, revealed on Monday that a helmet he has used in training featuring images of compatriots killed during the war in Ukraine has been prohibited from use in official competition. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) informed Heraskevych that the helmet violates Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which bans political statements at Olympic venues.
IOC Representative Delivers Decision
Heraskevych stated that Toshio Tsurunaga, the IOC representative responsible for communications between athletes, national Olympic committees, and the IOC, visited him at the Athletes' Village to deliver the decision. "He said it's because of Rule 50," Heraskevych told Reuters. Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter explicitly states that "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas." The helmet, which depicts several Ukrainian athletes who lost their lives in the conflict—some of whom were personal friends of Heraskevych—will now likely have to be set aside for the duration of the Games.
Ukrainian President Voices Support
The athlete's decision to wear the helmet during training sessions in Milan garnered significant praise from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Writing on Telegram, Zelenskiy thanked Heraskevych "for reminding the world of the price of our struggle." The president emphasized that the tribute should not be considered inconvenient or inappropriate, stating, "This truth cannot be inconvenient, inappropriate, or called a 'political act at a sporting event.' It is a reminder to the whole world of what modern Russia is." Zelenskiy further highlighted the global role of sports in promoting peace, asserting that Ukraine remains faithful to this mission while Russia proves otherwise. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
IOC Awaits Formal Request
Earlier on Monday, the IOC clarified that it had not received any official request from the Ukrainian Olympic Committee to authorize the use of the helmet in competition, which is scheduled to begin on February 12. An IOC spokesperson noted, "To date, the IOC has not received any request from the NOC (National Olympic Committee) for the athlete to wear the helmet in the competition. Once a submission is made, the IOC will look at the request." The helmet features images of several individuals, including teenage weightlifter Alina Perehudova, boxer Pavlo Ischenko, ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov, actor and athlete Ivan Kononenko, diver and coach Mykyta Kozubenko, shooter Oleksiy Habarov, and dancer Daria Kurdel.
Heraskevych's History of Advocacy
This is not the first time Heraskevych has used the Olympic stage to draw attention to Ukraine's plight. During the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, just days before Russia's invasion, he held up a "No War in Ukraine" sign. The athlete has expressed his intention to respect Olympic rules prohibiting political demonstrations at venues while still ensuring that Ukraine's struggle remains visible during the Games. His actions reflect a delicate balance between athletic competition and personal conviction.
The Complex Intersection of Sport and Politics
The controversy surrounding Heraskevych's helmet occurs within a broader context of ongoing tensions between sports and political expression at the Olympic Games. Following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus were largely barred from international sport, though the IOC has since supported their gradual return under strict conditions. Both Moscow and Minsk maintain that sport should remain separate from international conflicts, a stance that contrasts sharply with the experiences of athletes like Heraskevych.
Historical Precedents of Olympic Protests
Over the years, there have been numerous incidents where athletes have protested on the field of play or during medal ceremonies. The most iconic case dates back to the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, when American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised black-gloved fists during the 200 meters medal ceremony to protest racial injustice in the United States. Their actions led to expulsion from the Games, although Smith retained his gold medal and Carlos his bronze.
More recently, at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, Afghan breakdancer Manizha Talash, a member of the refugee Olympic team, was disqualified after wearing a cape with the slogan "Free Afghan Women" during a pre-qualifying competition. These examples illustrate the ongoing challenges athletes face when attempting to merge personal beliefs with Olympic participation.
Cases Where Actions Were Not Deemed Political
However, not all symbolic actions have resulted in sanctions. At the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Australia's women's soccer team unfurled a flag representing the first peoples of Australia. While it was not one of the recognized flags of participating nations, the team faced no punishment. Similarly, two Chinese cycling medalists who wore badges featuring the head of former leader Mao Zedong on the podium in Tokyo received only a warning. These instances highlight the subjective nature of how Rule 50 is applied, often depending on the specific context and interpretation by Olympic officials.
The situation with Vladyslav Heraskevych's helmet underscores the persistent tension between the Olympic ideal of neutrality and the reality of athletes using their platform to address profound personal and national issues. As the Milan Cortina Games proceed, this case will likely fuel further debate about the boundaries of expression in international sports.
