The 2026 Winter Olympics have gone viral for many reasons, including the newfound love of curling, the famous American figure skater Ilia Manlin and the act of Ukrainian athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych.
The Winter Olympics have graced our television and news outlets with the wonder that athletes can bring to daily life.
From the beloved Opening Ceremony in the San Siro Stadium of Milan, Italy, to the incredible performances done by athletes all over the world for the breathtaking, dangerous winter sports, the Olympics have become an escape from current political attitudes around the world.
Yet, one athlete tried calling attention to a political and brutal reality that he cannot escape from.
The Ukrainian skeleton pilot Vladyslav Heraskevych was recently disqualified from the Games, for he wishes to compete wearing a custom helmet that commemorates fellow Ukrainian athletes who had lost their lives since the Russian invasion first began.
The athlete had pushed to compete in his sport and to carry their memory with him as he competed on the global stage.
“I made a great proposal this morning to wear this helmet and show solidarity with Ukraine — I believe it’s a great way (for the IOC) to show it has solidarity with Ukraine — and to remove all the scandal,” Heraskevych said after he had a meeting with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
A meeting was held to discuss the logistics behind Heraskevych’s wish to wear this helmet.
“The IOC was very keen for Mr Heraskevych to compete,” the committee said. “This is why the IOC sat down with him to look for the most respectful way to address his desire to remember his fellow athletes who have lost their lives following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The essence of this case is not about the message, it is about where he wanted to express it.”
The decision was also reviewed by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation And ultimately, due to Heraskevych’s not adhering to the code of conduct or charter for expression, he was ultimately disqualified.
The IOC president, Kirsty Coventry, was interviewed about this final decision, in which she shed light on the request made by other athletes back in 2020, where many would prefer to avoid any political discussion or demonstration.
“They also asked us to keep certain areas, so the field of play, the podium, the olympic village: safe ones,” she said.“Because they also realized that they could use that for their own personal messaging, they could also be asked to use that for others and for political messaging and how could we keep them safe in order to not be asked to use the field of play or the podium for something that they didn’t agree with.”
The request for a reprieve from political opinions during the Olympic Games has been a famous argument as to whether or not it is correct for athletes to use the stage that they earn as a moment to protest or not. The new rules of conduct in this matter were created to give athletes a chance to also not partake in politics if they did not feel comfortable doing so, as Coventry explains.
Though multiple compromises were offered, none were able to appease all parties. The “emotional morning” had caused many tears to be shed regarding these individuals, both Coventry and Heraskevych, trying to express something as large as understanding and remembrance.
Yet Vladyslav Heraskevych replied to the news shared by the interview in that, though he appreciated the sympathy and Coventry’s willingness to listen, his helmet still carried an important message he wished to share.
“In Ukraine, we have a lot of tears, and I don’t want to doubt her feelings,” Heraskevych said in regard to the interview. “But I don’t believe we violated the rules. I also want to thank her for her kind words in the meeting, but as I told her, this situation plays along with Russian propaganda and doesn’t look good.”
