Winter Olympics 2026: Why Vladislav Heraskevich was banned for anniversary helmet

The decision to ban Heraskevich sparked shock and condemnation from many former and current Olympians.

“I think it’s really shocking. There is shock and confusion within the slippery society,” Lizzie Yarnold, a two-time Olympic gold medalist for Team GB, told BBC Sport.

“this [wearing the helmet] It was a reaction to something that was an incredibly memorial and emotionally important act for him.

“I think the IOC owes him an apology and this was the wrong decision.”

Two-time Olympic skier John Jackson was not a fan of the IOC.

Jackson, who also served as a commando in the Royal Marines, told the BBC: “His approach to it is about remembering those who have fallen.

“For me, being military and now a veteran, commemoration is really important for all veterans. We’ve all lost friends and colleagues in conflict, and we all know someone who’s not here and paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

“I support him in what he was trying to achieve. It’s really important to remember those who gave their lives for something that didn’t need to happen in the end.”

Meanwhile, Heraskiewicz told the BBC that the ban left him feeling “empty”.

“Yesterday and the day before yesterday I was training well. I could have been among the medal winners in this event, but suddenly due to some interpretations of the rules that I do not agree with, I was not able to compete,” he said.

“Expression Guidelines – What do you consider an expression? Many others here in this arena have helmets of different colors and I think that is also a kind of expression.

“Others had national symbols, and that’s also an expression. For some reason, their helmets weren’t checked and they were allowed to compete, but I don’t do that.

“I believe them [those who have fallen] They deserve to be here because of their sacrifices. “I want to honor them and their families.”

Heraskevich’s international teammates showed their support throughout Thursday’s competition in Italy.

Alpine skier Dmytro Chepyuk displayed a note reading “Ukrainian champions are with us” after the competition, while Olena Smaha also expressed support for Heraskevich wearing a glove that read: “Memory is not a violation.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the International Olympic Committee of “playing into the hands of the Russian aggressor” after Heraskevich was excluded.

“Sport should not mean loss of memory, and the Olympic movement should help stop wars, not be in the hands of aggressors,” he wrote on the X website., external.

“Unfortunately, the IOC’s decision to disqualify Ukrainian competitor Vladislav Heraskevich says otherwise.”