Mikhail Geraskevich, the father and coach of the renowned Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladislav Geraskevich, emotionally reacted to the decision to disqualify his son from the 2026 Winter Olympics. The reason was the ban on the use of the ‘Memory Helmet,’ which the athlete wore to honor Ukrainian athletes who died at the hands of Russian occupiers.
This is reported by Finway
Reasons and Reactions to the Disqualification
From the beginning of the Olympic training, Vladislav Geraskevich used a special helmet that depicted over 20 Ukrainian athletes who lost their lives due to Russian aggression. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) prohibited this gesture, citing the political nature of the symbolism, and warned of possible disqualification even before the official competitions began.
“Despite the IOC’s ban and the threat of disqualification, Vladislav emphasized that he would continue to wear this helmet on official competition days.”
However, even after the request from the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine to allow Geraskevich to compete in the ‘Memory Helmet,’ the IOC remained steadfast in its position. Instead, Vladislav was offered an alternative – a black armband or ribbon, which, according to the athlete himself, did not align with his desire to honor his fallen colleagues in this particular way.
Further Developments and Consequences for the Ukrainian Team
On the day of the first official run, February 12, Vladislav Geraskevich met with IOC President Kirsty Coventry, but no compromise was reached. After this meeting, the athlete was ultimately disqualified, which was a heavy blow for both the athlete and his family. Mikhail Geraskevich could not hold back his emotions and cried upon learning of the organizers’ final decision.
Prior to this incident, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had also expressed his position regarding the ban, supporting the athlete’s right to honor the memory of fallen compatriots.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are taking place from February 6 to 22 in the Italian cities of Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. A total of 116 sets of medals are contested in 16 sports. The Ukrainian team is represented by 46 athletes competing in 11 disciplines. After five days of competition, Ukrainian athletes have yet to win any medals.