“Important to help”: Ukrainian athlete addresses German TV viewers after helmet disqualification at the Olympics
merkur.de/sport/wintersport/ukrainer-wendet-sich-nach-helm-disqualifikation-bei-olympia-an-tv-zuschauer-94166844.html
Photo: merkur.de · view article
Ukrainian Athlete Disqualified Over Helmet at OlympicsIn 2026 Winter Games, Vladyslav Heraskevych was excluded due to a helmet depicting Ukrainians killed in the ongoing conflict.
Key FactsFeb 12, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: merkur.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: merkur.de
- Skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified at the Olympics because his helmet displayed images of Ukrainians killed in the war.
- The IOC permitted the helmet for training but banned it during competition, leading to his full exclusion from the event.
- Heraskevych argued that his helmet did not violate any rules or contain political propaganda as defined by the IOC.
- He addressed German TV viewers highlighting the importance of supporting Ukraine and is considering an appeal to the international sports tribunal.
This is a difficult time in Ukraine, and it is important to help. Thank you.— Vladyslav Heraskevych, Ukrainian skeleton athlete, speaks out after his disqualification at the Olympics.
Story Details
| Last Updated | |
| Total Articles | 1 |
Main Topics
Similar to This
Previous
First World Cup victory! Raimund celebrates - | Dominator disqualified: Philipp Raimund takes his first World Cup victory. The German benefits from the ...
sport1.de/news/wintersport/skispringen/2026/03/raimund-holt-ersten-weltcupsieg-prevc-disqualifiziert
Key FactsRaimund Claims First World Cup Amid Prevc Disqualification
Mar 6, 2026 · Reading time: ~30 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: stuttgarter-nachrichten.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: stuttgarter-nachrichten.de
- Philipp Raimund earned his maiden World Cup win in Lahti shortly after his Olympic success, benefiting from Domen Prevc’s disqualification.
- Prevc was disqualified for insufficient weight relative to ski length after achieving the longest jump of 129 meters.
- Despite the setback, Prevc secured the overall World Cup crystal globe, completing five major titles within a year.
- The Lahti event replaced the canceled Kuusamo competition and was held as a single-round contest due to scheduling constraints.
2026 Olympics: Helmet controversy also causes a stir at TSV Gersthofen: Anna-Sofiia Derevyanko had to leave her Ukrainian homeland. An Olympic moment makes the ...
augsburger-allgemeine.de/augsburg-land/sport/olympia-2026-helm-eklat-sorgt-auch-beim-tsv-gersthofen-fuer-aufregung-113503884
Controversial Olympic hero lashes out at Russia after returning to Ukraine: After his Olympic ban, skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych has returned to his ...
giessener-allgemeine.de/sport/sport-mix/umstrittener-olympia-held-schiesst-gegen-russland-zr-94173542.html
After Olympic exclusion: Zelensky honors Ukrainian athlete: Wladyslaw Heraskewytsch was excluded because of his helmet bearing portraits of athletes killed in ...
stern.de/sport/olympia/nach-olympia-ausschluss--selenskyj-zeichnet-ukrainischen-athleten-aus-37136168.html
Who is on helmet that led to Ukrainian athlete's disqualification from Winter Olympics?
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnv63q1vpv1o
Key FactsUkrainian Athlete Banned for Memorial Helmet Display
Feb 14, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: bbc.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: bbc.com
- Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was banned from the 2026 Winter Olympics for wearing a helmet depicting athletes killed during the conflict with Russia.
- The helmet features over twenty Ukrainian sports figures, including teenagers and champions who died since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.
- Many portrayed athletes had notable achievements or were preparing for major international events before their deaths in combat or attacks.
- Heraskevych’s appeal against the ban was rejected, highlighting ongoing tensions over political expression at the Olympic Games.
Taras Shpuk was a warrior, and he died as a warrior.— said Taras Chmut, director of the Come Back Alive Foundation, regarding Taras Shpuk.
"Very, very sad": German medalist feels for Ukrainian after Olympic helmet scandal
fr.de/sport/wintersport/deutscher-olympia-held-zeigt-grosses-mitgefuehl-nach-helm-skandal-im-skeleton-94169984.html
Key FactsOlympic Helmet Controversy Shadows 2026 Skeleton Event
Feb 14, 2026 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: merkur.de
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: merkur.de
- Germany achieved a strong performance with two podium finishes in the 2026 Olympic men's skeleton event.
- Vladyslav Heraskevych was barred by the IOC due to a helmet displaying images of war casualties.
- Christopher Grotheer expressed deep sympathy, highlighting the disappointment of missing the athlete’s key moment.
- The IOC cited Rule 50 banning political messages during competition, which has triggered ongoing debate.
I find it very, very sad for him as an athlete. Because I believe I can only put myself in his shoes as an athlete. Training for four years to then compete at the peak, that is his big moment. And he is not at the start, I feel very sorry for him.— Christopher Grotheer comments on the disqualification of Vladyslav Heraskevych in an interview with ARD.
Ukrainian cross-country skier rages after helmet controversy at the Olympics: "Russians destroyed my house"
fr.de/sport/wintersport/ukraine-langlaeuferin-schimpft-bei-olympia-ueber-helm-eklat-94168375.html
Olympics: Ukrainian skeleton pilot disqualified for helmet: He wanted to commemorate the dead Ukrainian athletes who were depicted on his helmet: The skeleton ...
zdfheute.de/sport/olympia-2026-helm-ukrainer-heraskewytsch-disqualifikation-100.html
“Thirteen Russians deserve disqualification”: Zelenskyy awards skeleton racer medal after helmet dispute - | and criticizes IOC
tagesspiegel.de/sport/dreizehn-russen-verdienen-disqualifikation-selenskyj-verleiht-skeleton-fahrer-nach-helm-streit-orden--und-kritisiert-ioc-15243113.html
Olympic controversy: | "Madness - | a very, very bad decision": The IOC disqualifies Ukrainian Vladyslav Heraskevych because of his commemorative helmet ...
sport1.de/news/olympia/2026/02/loch-ioc-umgang-mit-heraskewytsch-ist-wahnsinn
Olympics: Message from Ukrainian lugers censored? ZDF reveals | Sport: Ukrainian luge team and the inaudible message - | a curious moment at the Winter Games.
bild.de/sport/olympia/olympia-botschaft-der-ukraine-rodler-zensiert-zdf-deckt-auf-698e1cda0abe5c8b74ecd8f4
2026 Olympics: Ukrainian Heraskevych disqualified because of helmet with war victims
sueddeutsche.de/sport/olympia-heraskewytsch-helm-ukraine-kriegsopfer-disqualifiziert-li.3386351
Ukrainian Olympian Disqualified for Helmet Honoring Victims of Russian Invasion: The Olympics governing body has disqualified a Ukrainian athlete for wearing a ...
rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/olympics-disqualifies-vladyslav-heraskevych-ukraine-helmet-1235515222/
2026 Olympics - | Skeleton: IOC disqualifies Vladyslav Heraskevych because of helmet with portraits of Ukrainians killed in the war
eurosport.de/skeleton/olympia-mailand-cortina/2026/olympia-2026-skeleton-ioc-disqualifiziert-vladyslav-heraskevych-wegen-helm-mit-portraets-im-krieg-getoeteter-ukrainer_sto23269739/story.shtml
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2026/02/12/image-765d874e-1646-4678-8f97-cdb0a503da63-68-310-310.jpeg)
Next