Source: NBC News
“A Ukrainian athlete has been disqualified from the Winter Olympics over his insistence on wearing a helmet honoring people killed in his country’s war with Russia. The International Olympic Committee said in a statement early Thursday that skeleton racer Vladylsav Heraskevych, the Ukrainian flag bearer, was ‘not allowed to participate at Milano Cortina 2026 after refusing to adhere to the IOC athlete expression guidelines.’ The decision was announced shortly before Heraskevych was due to compete in the men’s skeleton competition, in which he was considered a legitimate medal contender. ‘This is price of our dignity,’ he said in a post on X. Heraskevych indicated he would appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Kyiv labeled his disqualification a ‘moment of shame’ for the IOC.” (02/12/26)