By Trendsetter Tribune 
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics has seen a major stand-off between Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Despite a formal ban on his “Helmet of Memory,” Heraskevych has vowed to wear the gear during his official race on Thursday, February 12.+1
The Conflict: Rule 50 vs. Remembrance
The IOC has officially barred the helmet, citing Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits “political, religious, or racial propaganda” in Olympic venues.
- The IOC’s Position: Spokesperson Mark Adams characterized the helmet as a political statement but offered a “compromise”: Heraskevych may wear a plain black armband in competition.
- Heraskevych’s Defiance: The 27-year-old athlete has rejected the armband, stating, “The IOC doesn’t have enough black bands to memorize all the athletes who were killed in this war.” On Wednesday, he labeled the IOC’s stance a “theater of the absurd” and insisted the helmet is about remembrance, not politics.+1
Who is Honored on the Helmet?
The helmet features the portraits of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed since the Russian invasion began in 2022. Some of the individuals depicted include:
| Athlete | Sport |
| Alina Perehudova | Weightlifting (Teenager) |
| Pavlo Ischenko | Boxing |
| Oleksiy Loginov | Ice Hockey |
| Ivan Kononenko | Acting/Athletics |
| Mykyta Kozubenko | Diving (Coach) |
| Oleksiy Habarov | Shooting |
| Daria Kurdel | Dance |
| Dmytro Sharpar | Figure Skating (Former Youth Olympian) |
“These people sacrificed their lives and because of that, I am able to be here today. I will not betray them.” — Vladyslav Heraskevych
Key Developments
- Official Warning: The IOC sent representative Toshio Tsurunaga to the Athletes’ Village to personally inform Heraskevych that the helmet cannot be worn on the “field of play.”
- Solidarity from Teammates: Ukrainian luge athlete Olena Smaha showed support by writing “Remembrance is not a violation” on her glove during her final runs on Tuesday.
- Presidential Support: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has publicly thanked Heraskevych for his stance, arguing that the truth of the struggle cannot be “inconvenient” or “inappropriate.”
- The Risk: The IOC has warned that “disciplinary action” will be taken on a case-by-case basis if rules are violated during the official competition.
The men’s skeleton competition is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. local time on Thursday. Heraskevych, who finished fourth at the 2025 World Championships, remains a strong medal contender.