Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ripped the International Olympic Committee for disqualifying Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych for wearing a helmet honoring athletes killed since the beginning of the war.
The IOC announced Thursday morning that it was disqualifying Heraskevych for his refusal to comply with the committee’s guidelines on “athlete expression.” Zelensky said sports “shouldn’t mean amnesia,” following the decision.
“Sport shouldn’t mean amnesia, and the Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play into the hands of aggressors,” Zelensky said in a statement on X. “This is certainly not about the principles of Olympism, which are founded on fairness and the support of peace.”
Zelensky thanked Heraskevych for his “clear stance,” arguing the helmet was about “remembrance.”
“It is a reminder to the whole world of what Russian aggression is and the cost of fighting for independence,” Zelensky said. “And in this, no rule has been broken.”
IOC President Kirsty Coventry said she met with Heraskevych for a “respectful” conversation before he was disqualified.
Coventry said the decision was not about the message, but was based on the “rules and regulations.”
“No one – no one, especially me – is disagreeing with the messaging. The messaging is a powerful message. It’s a message of remembrance. It’s a message of memory,” she said in a statement. “It’s not about the messaging; it’s literally about the rules and the regulations.”
“In this case – the field of play – we have to be able to keep a safe environment for everyone. And sadly, that just means no messaging is allowed,” she added.
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Zelensky called out Russia for “constantly” violating “Olympic principles.”
He highlighted various Russian military actions taken following the Olympic Games, specifically pointing to Georgia in 2008, 2014, with the “occupation” of Crimea, and 2022 with the invasion of Ukraine.
“It is Russia that constantly violates Olympic principles, using the period of the Olympic Games to wage war,” he said. “And now, in 2026, despite repeated calls for a ceasefire during the Winter Olympics, Russia shows complete disregard, increasing missile and drone strikes on our energy infrastructure and our people.”
Roughly 660 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed since the conflict began in 2022, according to Zelensky.
He criticized Russian athletes being able to compete, while “hundreds” of dead Ukrainian athletes will “never again” be able to compete in any international competition.
“Yet, 13 Russians are currently in Italy competing at the Olympics,” he said. “They compete under “neutral” flags at the Games, while in real life publicly supporting Russian aggression against Ukraine and the occupation of our territories.”
“And they are the ones who deserve disqualification,” he added.
Coventry said the IOC tried to find ways for Heraskevych to “pay homage” to the message on his helmet during their discussion.
“We could find ways where we can pay homage to his message, to his helmet, before he races. And sadly, we’ve not been able to come to that solution,” she said.
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Heraskevych posted on X following the IOC’s decision, saying this is the “price of our dignity,” and argued that the committee has allowed other athletes to express grief during the Olympic Games.
“I believe we didn’t violate any rules,” Heraskevych said. “I see big inconsistencies in decisions, in the wording, in the press conferences of the IOC, and I believe it’s the biggest problem that it’s inconsistent.”