'Sport shouldn't mean amnesia': President slams IOC after Ukrainian flag bearer barred from Milano Cortina over helmet stance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused the International Olympic Committee of playing into Russia's hands by banning his country's flag bearer from competing over a helmet paying tribute to war victims.

Skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych, who has been training in a helmet covered in images of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes killed in Russia's ongoing invasion of his homeland, was kicked out of Milano Cortina 2026 on Thursday for his "refusal to comply" with the IOC's rules.

The IOC declared he could not wear the tribute in competition, instead offering him the chance to wear a black armband, calling it a compromise.

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When Heraskevych refused, saying there weren't enough armbands to honour so many dead, the IOC revoked his accreditation, claiming he "did not consider any form of compromise" before his competition started.

"Having been given one final opportunity, skeleton pilot Vladylsav Heraskevych from Ukraine will not be able to start his race at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games this morning," the IOC said in a statement on Thursday.

"The decision followed his refusal to comply with the IOC's guidelines on athlete expression. It was taken by the jury of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation based on the fact that the helmet he intended to wear was not compliant."

Zelenskyy thanked Heraskevych for his stance, saying 660 Ukrainian athletes and coaches had been killed since Russia's full-scale invasion began four years ago this month.

"Sport shouldn't mean amnesia, and the Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play into the hands of aggressors," he said in an X post on Thursday.

"Unfortunately, the decision of the International Olympic Committee to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych says otherwise. 

"This is certainly not about the principles of Olympism, which are founded on fairness and the support of peace."

Zelenskyy said the 13 Russian athletes competing under a "neutral" flag at Italy were the ones deserving disqualification.

Watch the Winter Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now. Plus, every event live & on demand, every medal in 4K, and exclusive international coverage on Stan Sport.

"It is Russia that constantly violates Olympic principles, using the period of the Olympic Games to wage war," he said.

"In 2008, it was the war against Georgia; in 2014 – the occupation of Crimea; in 2022 – the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

"And now, in 2026, despite repeated calls for a ceasefire during the Winter Olympics, Russia shows complete disregard, increasing missile and drone strikes on our energy infrastructure and our people."

The helmet features images of fallen Ukrainian athletes, including Dmytro Sharpar, who competed with the slider at the 2016 Youth Olympic Games and Youth Olympic medallist boxer Maksym Halinichev.

Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter in part states that "no kind of demonstration or political, religious or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues or other areas".

The Ukrainians argued the helmet didn't breach the rule but the IOC put its foot down when it came to the race itself.

"The IOC was very keen for Mr Heraskevych to compete. This is why the IOC sat down with him to look for the most respectful way to address his desire to remember his fellow athletes who have lost their lives following Russia's invasion of Ukraine," it said, in Thursday's statement.

"The essence of this case is not about the message, it is about where he wanted to express it. Mr Heraskevych was able to display his helmet in all training runs.

"The IOC also offered him the option of displaying it immediately after the competition when going through the mixed zone."

Heraskevych had earlier pledged he would keep wearing the helmet in all trainings and while competing, saying it was important to remind the world of the war as well as pay tribute to those who'd died.

"If IOC betrays these athletes, I will not betray them," he said on Tuesday, repeating the statement when asked if it would be worth disqualification.

The IOC said it banned armbands in the past, but was willing to make an exception in Heraskevych's case.

"We don't want everyone wearing a black armband for every competition," Adams said. 

"But where there's a good reasoning, it will be considered properly."

Heraskevych and his country's chef de mission argued the helmet was not breaking any IOC rules, and complained banned Russian flags had been flying unpunished. 

"I also want to remind everyone that it's like 20 people – 24 people here [on the helmet] but it's in total more than 500 others who were killed," the flag bearer said.

"Also because of their sacrifice, we are able to compete here as a team, not only me, but whole team also.

"I truly believe that, if not their sacrifice, then war could be also in Europe."

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy thanked Heraskevych for "reminding the world of the price of our struggle".

"This truth cannot be inconvenient, inappropriate, or called a 'political demonstration at a sporting event'," he said on social media.

"It is a reminder to the entire world of what modern Russia is.

"And this is what reminds everyone of the global role of sport and the historic mission of the Olympic movement itself – it is all about peace and for the sake of life. 

"Ukraine remains faithful to this. Russia proves the opposite."

The head coach of Latvia's skeleton team fronted the press alongside Heraskevych to declare his delegation's support.

- with Liam O'Loughlin