Ukrainian skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych takes part in an Olympic training session on February 9. His helmet is adorned with images of Ukrainian athletes killed in Russian attacks.
Ukrainian skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych takes part in an Olympic training session on February 9. His helmet is adorned with images of Ukrainian athletes killed in Russian attacks.
[He was disqualified days later](https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/12/sport/ukrainian-skeleton-withdrawn-olympics-helmet) for “refusing to adhere” to the International Olympic Committee’s athlete expression guidelines. Kirsty Coventry, the president of the International Olympic Committee, met with Heraskevych to try to convince him to adhere to the guidelines, but the Ukrainian stood his ground, resulting in the disqualification.
Alessandra Tarantino/AP
Corporate-Scum on
Ukrainians have balls. Nothing but respect.
ultraboycrazy on
It’s absolutely ridiculous that he was disqualified! It’s disgusting.
damMagpie on
Ah yes, same event that [allows ruzzians with military ties to participate ](https://bsky.app/profile/united24media.com/post/3mebuaxqnho22) decides that paying tribute to those who will never have a chance to participate again is an unacceptable political statement
Fucking hypocrites
forvirradsvensk on
That country seems to produce a steady stream of legends. Sadly, one of the reasons Russia is trying to wipe them out. Their kleptocracy is in threat if their popultion see neighboring countries being successful.
MailSynth on
It’s embarrassing that the world continues to act like this country isn’t the victim of a disgusting attack day after day. Ppl just normalizing it all. Awful.
random_user_number_5 on
Has more balls than the people that signed off on protecting Ukraine from Russia if they destroyed/decommissioned their nukes.
CHsbf1984 on
This is why I dont support the Olympics I think the IOC needs a good beating.
Foreverdumb666 on
Yet Israel is allowed to compete…
sweet_shadow87 on
Quite infuriating, lost all my respect and fire for the Olympics, I like a few sports but this really looks bad and I will no longer tune into this dumb competition, such disrespect. The message was great and them DQing him was a big screw you to everyone and all the family’s. They never cared about the players just the money they make off them
Yos13 on
Slava Heroyam 🫡🇺🇦
Bikelove_73 on
Let him be
Teacher2teens on
He was disqualified for this, when Russians can celebrate their war at the same time. Disgusting.
_carbonneutral on
“iT’s PoLiTiCaL eXpReSsIoN. DiSqUALiFiEEDdDDdDdd!”
DisposableServant on
FUCK the IOC and FUCK Russia
pufflye5 on
Slava ukraini
FitAd1440 on
In my view, the rules should apply universally, without exceptions — Ukraine included.
JosephFinn on
OK.
Car_nerds_unite on
Aaaaand he gets punished. People need to boycott or something until he gets it back. He earned that with really hard work and a lot of training only to be robbed over a well-used/placed homage. Society can be so cruel to the best intentions.
Ahyao17 on
You can compete with names and images tatooed on you in sports that show skin but not on your helmet!?
I suggest he wear a normal helmet and make a temporary tatoos of these people’s names on his forhead and face. Since tatoos are allowed.
Rare4orm on
Simply a matter of “safety” and keeping “the athletes safe”, said an Olympic official. I felt sorry for her as she fumbled out the disingenuous excuse.
PeopleNose on
Put him back
Shameful
How dare they
FcBe88 on
Remembrance is not a violation
F1McLarenFan007 on
Political shit no go in Olympics
Carrenal on
Not the first time Ukrainian athletes do stunts like these. The outrage is always calculated and it amazes me how different it is taken depending on who is breaking the rules.
One or two years back a Ukrainian Judoka refused the obligatory handshake with her Russian opponent, got disqualified. Outrage ensued, how could they disqualify her for breaking the rules!?!
When Iranian and Israeli athletes meet and the iranians refuse to fight or do the handshake they get disqualified too-and outrage ensues, how could the iranians be such assholes, they are breaking the rules and good that they disqualified.
niquelas on
Rules are rules. He was even given warning and a chance to amend this rulebreaking but he chose to ignore it. So he got disqualified.
Don’t see anything wrong here. Is he here to compete or protest?
Or maybe he knew he sucks at his sport anyways and this is the only way he’d get some attention for himself and his cause.
26 Comments
[He was disqualified days later](https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/12/sport/ukrainian-skeleton-withdrawn-olympics-helmet) for “refusing to adhere” to the International Olympic Committee’s athlete expression guidelines. Kirsty Coventry, the president of the International Olympic Committee, met with Heraskevych to try to convince him to adhere to the guidelines, but the Ukrainian stood his ground, resulting in the disqualification.
Alessandra Tarantino/AP
Ukrainians have balls. Nothing but respect.
It’s absolutely ridiculous that he was disqualified! It’s disgusting.
Ah yes, same event that [allows ruzzians with military ties to participate ](https://bsky.app/profile/united24media.com/post/3mebuaxqnho22) decides that paying tribute to those who will never have a chance to participate again is an unacceptable political statement
Fucking hypocrites
That country seems to produce a steady stream of legends. Sadly, one of the reasons Russia is trying to wipe them out. Their kleptocracy is in threat if their popultion see neighboring countries being successful.
It’s embarrassing that the world continues to act like this country isn’t the victim of a disgusting attack day after day. Ppl just normalizing it all. Awful.
Has more balls than the people that signed off on protecting Ukraine from Russia if they destroyed/decommissioned their nukes.
This is why I dont support the Olympics I think the IOC needs a good beating.
Yet Israel is allowed to compete…
Quite infuriating, lost all my respect and fire for the Olympics, I like a few sports but this really looks bad and I will no longer tune into this dumb competition, such disrespect. The message was great and them DQing him was a big screw you to everyone and all the family’s. They never cared about the players just the money they make off them
Slava Heroyam 🫡🇺🇦
Let him be
He was disqualified for this, when Russians can celebrate their war at the same time. Disgusting.
“iT’s PoLiTiCaL eXpReSsIoN. DiSqUALiFiEEDdDDdDdd!”
FUCK the IOC and FUCK Russia
Slava ukraini
In my view, the rules should apply universally, without exceptions — Ukraine included.
OK.
Aaaaand he gets punished. People need to boycott or something until he gets it back. He earned that with really hard work and a lot of training only to be robbed over a well-used/placed homage. Society can be so cruel to the best intentions.
You can compete with names and images tatooed on you in sports that show skin but not on your helmet!?
I suggest he wear a normal helmet and make a temporary tatoos of these people’s names on his forhead and face. Since tatoos are allowed.
Simply a matter of “safety” and keeping “the athletes safe”, said an Olympic official. I felt sorry for her as she fumbled out the disingenuous excuse.
Put him back
Shameful
How dare they
Remembrance is not a violation
Political shit no go in Olympics
Not the first time Ukrainian athletes do stunts like these. The outrage is always calculated and it amazes me how different it is taken depending on who is breaking the rules.
One or two years back a Ukrainian Judoka refused the obligatory handshake with her Russian opponent, got disqualified. Outrage ensued, how could they disqualify her for breaking the rules!?!
When Iranian and Israeli athletes meet and the iranians refuse to fight or do the handshake they get disqualified too-and outrage ensues, how could the iranians be such assholes, they are breaking the rules and good that they disqualified.
Rules are rules. He was even given warning and a chance to amend this rulebreaking but he chose to ignore it. So he got disqualified.
Don’t see anything wrong here. Is he here to compete or protest?
Or maybe he knew he sucks at his sport anyways and this is the only way he’d get some attention for himself and his cause.