Vladyslav Heraskevych: There are things that are "more important than medals"

 

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy — A Ukrainian athlete who was disqualified from the Winter Olympics on Thursday over his insistence on wearing a helmet honoring people killed in his country's war with Russia said he refused to back down because there are things that are "more important than medals.”

The International Olympic Committee said in a statement early Thursday that skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, the Ukrainian flag bearer, was "not allowed to participate at Milano Cortina 2026 after refusing to adhere to the IOC athlete expression guidelines." A jury of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation made the decision, the IOC said.

Heraskevych told NBC News that the decision was "surreal." "I feel like I was treated unfairly. I was stripped out of opportunity to compete, and I don't understand why," he said.

The decision was announced shortly before Heraskevych was due to compete in the men’s skeleton competition, in which he was considered a legitimate medal contender.

He said he was already in the venue and had set up his sled for his race when he was notified, he was being disqualified. "I believe I am right in this case," he said. "For me to back down is betraying [the people pictured on the helmet]."

Heraskevych filed an application Thursday with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, an independent body, challenging the decision by the federation jury.

The application seeks to nullify the jury's decision. He is arguing that "the exclusion is disproportionate, unsupported by any technical or safety violation and causes irreparable sporting harm to him," according to a media summary of the filing. He had said when announcing an intention to file the challenge that it would be a “miracle” to compete in these Games... 

-NBC News