“The IOC is banning the use of my helmet in official training and competition. A decision that is simply heartbreaking. It feels like the IOC is betraying athletes who were part of the Olympic movement by not giving them the opportunity to honor them in a sports arena where these athletes will never be able to go again,” the skeleton athlete wrote.
According to him, there were precedents in modern times and in the past when “the IOC allowed such respect.”
“This time they decided to establish special rules for Ukraine. We are preparing an official request to the IOC and will fight for the right to compete in this particular helmet,” Geraskevich said.
He said that the IOC's claims were voiced to him by Toshio Tsirunaga, who is responsible for communication between athletes and the IOC.
Geraskevich noted that the day before the Italian athlete competed in a helmet with the flag of the aggressor country of Russia on it, and “there was no reaction to this.”
Later, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky wrote a post about Geraskevich on Telegram.
“Thanks to the flag bearer of our team at the Winter Olympics, Vladislav Geraskevich, for reminding the world of the cost of our struggle. This truth cannot be inconvenient, inappropriate or called a “political action at sports competitions.” This is a reminder to the whole world of what modern Russia is,” he said.
He noted that the helmet of the Ukrainian skeleton skater depicts Ukrainian athletes who were killed by the Russian Federation, including figure skater Dmitry Sharpar (killed in battles near Bakhmut) and 19-year-old biathlete Evgeniy Malyshev (killed by the occupiers near Kharkov).
“This is what reminds everyone of the global role of sport and the historical mission of the Olympic movement as such – it’s all about peace and for the sake of life. Ukraine is faithful to this. Russia proves the opposite,” Zelensky emphasized.
Context
The Olympic Games will last until February 22. 2,900 athletes from more than 90 countries will take part in the competition. There will be 116 sets of awards in 16 disciplines.
13 Russians competing in neutral status were allowed to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Ukraine will be represented in Milan and Cortina by 46 athletes in 11 sports.
