Vladislav Heraskevich: Ukrainian skeleton racer wears a helmet despite an IOC ban

Ukrainian racer Vladislav Heraskevich said he will wear his commemorative helmet on race days “because these athletes deserve to be on the track” – despite the International Olympic Committee banning him from doing so.

Heraskevich wore the helmet, which bears images of athletes killed during the Russian invasion of his country, during a training session on Wednesday after he was told it was not allowed.

The International Olympic Committee says the helmet violates rules set out in the Olympic Charter, and suggests instead wearing a black armband as a tribute.

Heraskiewicz says he does not think the IOC will sanction him for continuing to wear it, adding: “I think we have every right to wear this helmet in competition because it is fully compliant with the rules.

“I think the IOC doesn’t have enough black bands to honor all athletes.”

The IOC has not confirmed whether it will disqualify Heraskevich because he continues to wear a helmet, saying it is “not useful to look at assumptions.”

Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter states that “no political, religious or racist demonstrations or propaganda of any kind are permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas.”

Mark Adams, a spokesman for the International Olympic Committee, said they would contact Heraskiewicz on Thursday “to confirm the many opportunities he has had to express his grief.”

The men’s skeleton qualifiers begin on Wednesday with the final rounds on Friday, and Adams says he can show off the helmet in mixed zones and on social media but “the field of play is sacred.”

“We really want him to compete, and we want all the athletes to have their moments,” Adams said.

“[It’s] It is not helpful to look at assumptions. It’s no use speculating now, but there are rules and regulations that athletes want us to enforce. In the end, it will be the matter of the International Olympic Committee.

“We don’t want to litigate this case publicly — the way we hope we can deal with this is on a human level. It’s in everyone’s interest to compete.”

Heraskevich said many of those pictured on his helmet were athletes, including teenage weightlifter Alina Peregudova, boxer Pavlo Ishchenko and ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov, and some were his friends.

“With this helmet, we preserve memories of these athletes,” he said.

“Some of them were part of the Olympic movement – they were part of the Olympic family. I think they deserve to be here.”

The International Olympic Committee has previously excluded athletes for displaying political messages.

Afghan break dancer Manizha Talash, who represented the Refugee Olympic Team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has been disqualified for displaying the slogan “Free Afghan Women” on her abaya during a dance battle before the qualifiers.