Ukrainian Olympian Is Disqualified Over Helmet With Images of War Dead
Olympic officials had told Vladyslav Heraskevych that the helmet, featuring images of Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia, violated the Games’ ban on political speech. Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified for wearing a helmet to commemorate athletes who were killed in the war with Russia. Credit... Richard Heathcote/Getty Images By Victor Mather and Tariq Panja Tariq Panja reported from Milan. The New York Times , Feb. 12, 2026 Updated 7:01 a.m. ET; see also A Ukrainian athlete was disqualified from the Winter Olympics in Italy on Thursday because he had planned to wear a helmet commemorating countrymen killed in the war with Russia. Olympic officials had told the athlete, Vladyslav Heraskevych, that the helmet violated the Games’ prohibition on political speech. Mr. Heraskevych, who competes in skeleton, a sledding event on an ice track, had said this week that he planned to race with the helmet anyway. Moments before the co...