Skeleton player of the Ukrainian national team Vladislav Geraskevich commented on the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to disqualify him for the “memory helmet” at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

The athlete is quoted by "

“I still believe that we did not break any rules and had every right to compete in this helmet along with other athletes who did similar things in previous days at these Olympic Games. I did not receive any explanation about the Russian flag, why sanctions were not applied, why a skier has the right to speak with a message to her deceased teammate, but we do not.

The document also wrote that I publicly announced that these were victims of war, although of course, when you look at the helmet, this is not clear. This helmet has no political context, so I believe that I had every right to perform in it.

The arguments that Mrs. Coventry (IOC President - approx.. ) that they support Ukraine and are in solidarity with Ukraine - there are serious doubts about this. Especially after this decision. The tone was appropriate, there was no scandal. She suggested that we could show it at the start, but I would ride in a different helmet and then they would provide it to me in the mix zone. But I believe that I should get the same rights as other athletes in other sports from other countries. For some reason I didn't get these rights.

We paid the price for our dignity, I defended the interests of Ukraine and the memory of the athletes. What's next? It just happened and it's hard to say. We will probably prepare a claim in CAS and continue to fight for our rights. I believe that we did not break any rules,” said Geraskevich.

Let us remind you that on February 9, Geraskevich went to official training for the first time wearing a helmet, on which photographs of athletes who died as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine were printed in black and white.. The IOC banned this helmet, despite the appeal of the NOC of Ukraine and the athlete’s public statements, and then proposed replacing it with a black bandage or ribbon, but Vladislav refused and continued to wear the “helmet of memory”.

At the same time, during the training sessions, Geraskevich looked like one of the real contenders for medals, and in the third training session he showed the best time among all participants on the track.

[see_also ids\u003d"

Earlier it was reported that a Ukrainian athlete was banned from competing at the 2026 Olympics wearing a helmet with a quote from Lina Kostenko.