Controversy Erupts Over Banned Helmet of Remembrance in Winter Olympics

Sat Feb 14 2026 22:21:20 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych faces disqualification for wearing a helmet featuring depictions of fellow athletes lost during the ongoing war with Russia.

Vladyslav Heraskevych, a Ukrainian skeleton slider, has been barred from competing in the Winter Olympics because of his helmet that memorializes athletes who have died since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The helmet features over 20 names and images, including that of his friends. This act of remembrance has ignited a major controversy, drawing attention to the ongoing war's impact on sports and athletes in Ukraine.

Ukrainian skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych's disqualification from the Winter Olympics over his helmet depicting fellow athletes killed since Russia's full-scale invasion is the Games' biggest controversy so far.

Heraskevych was barred from the men’s skeleton in Milan-Cortina earlier this week after he refused to stop wearing it and on Friday his appeal was denied.

He has said those featured on his helmet include teenage weightlifter Alina Perehudova, boxer Pavlo Ishchenko and ice hockey player Oleksiy Lohinov, adding that some of them were his friends.

More than 20 athletes appear on the helmet in total - here's more on each of them.

The controversy surrounding the helmet raises questions about the intersection of sport and politics, particularly in contexts affected by war. Supporters argue that Heraskevych's actions highlight the sacrifices made by Ukrainian athletes in the ongoing conflict, while critics claim that sports should remain separate from political statements.