The International Olympic Committee has banned a Ukrainian skeleton racer from wearing a helmet bearing the faces of his fellow athletes who have been slaughtered by Russian forces.
After donning the helmet at a training session on Monday, Vladyslav Heraskevych, 27, was told the gear violated rules against making political statements — but the athlete said it was a memorial to his fallen friends.
“The feeling that the IOC is betraying those athletes who were part of the Olympic movement, not allowing them to be honored on the sports arena where these athletes will never be able to step again,” he posted to X. “Despite precedents in modern times and in the past when the IOC allowed such tributes, this time they decided to set special rules just for Ukraine.”
“We are preparing an official request to the IOC and will fight for the right to compete in this exact helmet.”