Vladyslav Heraskevych

Владислав Гераскевич · also Heraskevych

Ukrainian skeleton racer and one of Ukraine's flag bearers at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, disqualified for insisting on racing in a "helmet of remembrance" showing athletes killed in the war.

Heraskevych is a Ukrainian skeleton racer. According to the Kyiv Post, at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics he displayed a banner reading "No War in Ukraine" days before Russia's full-scale invasion; Milano Cortina 2026 was his third Winter Games, and at 27 he was one of Ukraine's flag bearers.

On 12 February 2026 a jury of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation disqualified him for insisting on racing in a helmet bearing portraits of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes killed in the war; the IOC said he had failed to adhere to its athlete expression guidelines. NBC reported he had been considered a legitimate medal contender. The next day the Court of Arbitration for Sport dismissed his appeal; President Zelensky awarded him the Order of Liberty. He wrote on X: "This is the price of our dignity."

Last updated 2026-10-26 · Suggest a correction