Ukrainian skeleton pilot Vladyslav Heraskevych was left out of the Milan-Cortina Games after rejecting a last-minute request from the International Olympic Committee to wear a helmet other than the one that pays tribute to athletes killed in the war with Russia.
International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry was waiting for Heraskevych at the top of the track when he arrived around 8:15 a.m. Thursday, about 75 minutes before the start of the men’s skeleton event.
The two retreated to a private area and had a brief conversation, and Coventry apparently failed to change Heraskevych’s mind.
Heraskevych arrived at the Winter Games with a personalized helmet that shows the faces of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches who died during the war that began shortly after the end of the Beijing Olympics in 2022.
The IOC said Monday night that the helmet would not be allowed in competition, citing a rule that prohibits making political statements in Olympic competition areas. Still, Heraskevych wore the helmet in training on Tuesday and Wednesday, knowing that the IOC could ultimately prevent him from participating in the Olympic trials.
“The helmet does not violate any IOC rules,” Heraskevych said.
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This story was translated from English by an AP editor with the help of a generative artificial intelligence tool.
date: 2026-02-12 08:22:00
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