Olympics-Skeleton-Ukrainian Heraskevych disqualified for helmet depicting war dead

Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics - Skeleton - Vladyslav Heraskevych Press Conference - Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy - February 10, 2026. Vladyslav Heraskevych of Ukraine displays his helmet that serves as a tribute to athletes who have died amid Russia's attack on Ukraine during the press conference REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO/MILAN, Italy, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Ukraine's Vladyslav ⁠Heraskevych was disqualified from the Olympic skeleton competition on Thursday over his "helmet of remembrance" depicting athletes killed since Russia's invasion despite a last-minute appeal from a tearful IOC president.

The 27-year-old, who had been training ⁠in Italy with the helmet showing two dozen dead compatriots, was barred and initially told he would be stripped of his accreditation minutes before competition was due to start at the sliding venue.