'Ukraine stands with Heraskevych': NOC responds to Ukrainian athlete disqualification at Olympics
Vladyslav Heraskevych in memory helmet (photo: NOC Ukraine)
The National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOC) officially responded to the disqualification of Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych at the 2026 Winter Games, according to the NOC press service.
Statement from NOC Ukraine
The NOC emphasized that the athlete had planned to compete wearing a memory helmet, a tribute to fallen Ukrainian athletes and all defenders of Ukraine.
"He was going to start in the memory helmet as a sign of respect for deceased Ukrainian athletes and all our Heroes. Today, Vladyslav did not start, but he was not alone; he has, and will always have, all of Ukraine behind him. Because when an athlete stands for truth, honor, and memory, it is already a victory. A victory for Vladyslav. A victory for the entire country," the statement reads.
What is known about the disqualification
Heraskevych was scheduled to start in the first skeleton heat on February 12 at 10:30 a.m. Kyiv time. However, before the race, he received an official notice from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) denying him permission to compete.
The IOC confirmed the Ukrainian athlete’s disqualification on its official website and presented its version of the conflict.
Earlier, we reported that the IOC is signaling the potential return of Russian athletes.
It was also previously reported that Russian has become an official working language of the 2026 Winter Games.
