Zelenskyy on Heraskevych's disqualification: Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play along with aggressor

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has voiced support for Ukrainian skeleton athlete and flag bearer of the Ukrainian national team at the XXV Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was disqualified by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ahead of the first run of the 2026 Olympics on Thursday due to his principled refusal to comply with the ban on using a helmet bearing portraits of Ukrainian athletes killed during the war, and criticized the IOC’s decision.

"Sport does not mean oblivion, and the Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play into the hands of the aggressor. Unfortunately, the decision of the International Olympic Committee to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych says otherwise. This is certainly not about the principles of Olympism, which are based on fairness and support for peace," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram on Thursday.

He thanked Heraskevych "for his clear stance." "His helmet bearing portraits of fallen Ukrainian athletes is about honor and memory. It is a reminder to the whole world of what Russian aggression is and what price is paid in the struggle for independence. And there is no violation of any rule in this… We are proud of Vladyslav and his act. Having courage is more than having medals," the president stressed.

Zelenskyy noted that it is Russia that constantly violates Olympic principles and uses the time of the Olympics for war, and pointed to the participation of Russian athletes in the Games.

"Some 660 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed by Russia during the full-scale war. Hundreds of our athletes will never again be able to participate in the Olympic Games or any other international competitions. Yet 13 Russians are now in Italy and are participating in the Olympics. At the Olympic Games they compete under ‘neutral’ flags, while in real life they publicly support Russian aggression against Ukraine and the occupation of our territories. And it is they who deserve disqualification," the president said.

As reported, Heraskevych, who was disqualified by the IOC on Thursday morning ahead of the first skeleton run of the 2026 Olympics due to his principled refusal to comply with the ban on using a helmet bearing portraits of Ukrainian athletes killed during the war, insists that he did not violate any rules and had the right to compete in the helmet.

He also expressed "great doubts" about the arguments of IOC President Kirsty Coventry regarding alleged support and solidarity with Ukraine, "especially after this decision," and announced he would file a complaint with the Court of Arbitration for Sport on the matter.

Ukraine’s Minister of Youth and Sports Matviy Bidny called the IOC a mistake, saying he would contribute to its correction.

The National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Ukraine voiced support for Heraskevych, stating after the disqualification that "today Vladyslav did not start, but he was not alone — all of Ukraine was, is, and will be with him." "Because when an athlete stands up for truth, honor, and memory — that is already a victory. A victory for Vladyslav. A victory for the whole country," the statement reads.

Earlier, the Verkhovna Rada adopted a resolution classifying the IOC’s ban on Heraskevych competing in the helmet bearing portraits of fallen athletes as a manifestation of support for Russia. The document also states that as of early 2026, the number of Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed has exceeded 650.

Heraskevych stated that on the day of the competition he would compete in the helmet bearing portraits of fallen Ukrainian athletes despite the IOC ban, but was disqualified ahead of the first run on Thursday. The Committee accuses him of "not considering any form of compromise" despite numerous exchanges and personal meetings with the IOC, the last of which took place on Thursday morning. The IOC claims it very much wanted Heraskevych to compete and held the meetings precisely "to find the most respectful way to respond to his wish to honor the memory of his fellow athletes who died as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine."