Vladislav Heraskevych of Team Ukraine shows his helmet, featuring images of fellow Ukrainian athletes killed during Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, after he was barred from racing on February 12, 2026. Heraskevych, a skeleton racer and Ukraine's Winter Olympics flag bearer, had been warned earlier by the International Olympic Committee that he would not be allowed to wear his memorial helmet on race day. According to the IOC, it went against Olympic Charter guidelines, specifically a rule stating, 'No kind of demonstration or political, religious, or racial propaganda is permitted in any Olympic sites, venues, or other areas.' Heraskevych, who had worn the helmet during training sessions, disagreed with the Committee, denying that he had violated any rules.
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