'Some things matter more than medals': Ukrainian athlete Heraskevych's message after Olympics ban
Vladyslav Heraskevych (photo: instagram.com/heraskevychvladyslav)
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych reacted to the decision to bar him from competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics, according to the athlete’s comment to Suspilne Sport.
Why Heraskevych was disqualified
On Thursday, February 12, the International Olympic Committee officially announced the Ukrainian’s disqualification.
The decision was made by the jury of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF). The reason was the helmet of memory Heraskevych had planned to wear for the start. According to the organization, the equipment did not comply with current rules.
“Paid the price for our dignity”
After the announcement, Heraskevych recalled that he had already demonstrated his civic stance in 2022 by competing with a “No war in Ukraine” sign. At that time, despite the risk of sanctions, the IOC supported the Ukrainian athlete.
“We went through a very long journey to reach these Olympics. But for me, it’s also very symbolic that on this day I raised the 'No war in Ukraine' sign, and I consider that message still very relevant. Today, we paid the price for our dignity. I believe I did not break any rules. I defended my country, not just the country, but the memory of these athletes. They deserve it. Unfortunately, the IOC thinks differently, but we will look into the reasons further,” the athlete said.
“Defending what I believe in”
According to the skeleton racer, in both cases, he was guided by his own convictions and his desire to show the world the truth about Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Despite being in good form and having real chances for a high result, honoring the memory of deceased athletes was more important to him.
“Of course, it’s a shame. I did not want this scandal. I wanted to be part of this sporting celebration, which was taken from me as well. We had excellent training, excellent results. We clearly saw that we could compete for medals. I do not regret it, just like four years ago. Some things matter more than medals. I defended what I believe in,” Heraskevych emphasized.
What will happen with the helmet of memory
Heraskevych added that the story of the helmet will not end with the Olympics. The athlete plans to auction it off, with the proceeds going to aid Ukraine.
“I hope it fulfills its mission. We will put it up for auction, and in this way, we can raise some funds for Ukraine. I think this will help Ukraine much more and save many lives,” he said.
Earlier, we reported that the IOC is signaling a possible return of Russian athletes.
We also reported that Russian has become an official working language at the 2026 Winter Games.
