Summary:
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladislav Heraskevich filed a lawsuit with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after his attempt to race at the Milan-Cortina Olympics was thwarted. He sought to wear a helmet honoring over 20 Ukrainian coaches and athletes killed in the war with Russia. Although the arbitrator was sympathetic to his cause, the appeal was denied due to violations of Olympic rules regarding athlete representation.
Heraskevich’s disqualification came 45 minutes before his event, following a last-minute meeting with IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who reaffirmed that the rules justified the decision. CAS supported the IOC’s stance that the Olympic platform should focus on athlete performance, not political statements.
Despite this setback, Heraskevich expressed his commitment to raising awareness for victims of the war and criticized the IOC for permitting Russian athletes to compete. He noted discrepancies in rule enforcement, citing similar cases allowed without penalty. Ultimately, he left the Olympic village, meeting with Ukrainian officials and President Zelensky, who praised his spirit and the resilience of the Ukrainian people.
