Helmet of Remembrance: The Ukrainian Athlete's Tribute to War Victims

Sun Feb 15 2026 01:07:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych faces disqualification from the Winter Olympics for wearing a helmet that honors fellow athletes lost in the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Vladyslav Heraskevych's helmet, adorned with images of athletes who have died due to the war in Ukraine, has sparked controversy leading to his ban from Olympic competition. His refusal to remove the helmet, which features personal tributes to friends and fellow competitors, highlights the deep connection athletes have with their country and the human cost of the ongoing conflict. The helmet memorializes 20+ athletes, including notable figures from various sports, creating a poignant statement amidst a global sporting event.

Ukrainian skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych's disqualification from the Winter Olympics over his helmet depicting fellow athletes killed since Russia's full-scale invasion is the Games' biggest controversy so far.

Heraskevych was barred from the men's skeleton in Milan-Cortina after he refused to stop wearing it, and on Friday, his appeal was denied.

He stated that those featured on his helmet include teenage weightlifter Alina Perehudova, boxer Pavlo Ishchenko, and ice hockey player Oleksiy Lohinov, many of whom were his friends.

More than 20 athletes are memorialized on the helmet, each figure representing both personal and collective loss amid the ongoing war.