sports
February 12, 2026
Heraskevych’s ‘helmet of memory’ forces IOC on to PR back foot at Winter Olympics
Skeleton racer sacrificed his dream of winning a medal and succeeded in putting the horrors of the war in Ukraine back on the agenda
TL;DR
- Vladyslav Heraskevych chose to honor fallen Ukrainian athletes with his "helmet of memory" rather than withdraw from competition.
- Heraskevych's message was seen as a clever sidestep of IOC rules banning political expression by focusing on remembrance.
- He questioned the IOC's consistency by citing other athletes who have used their platform for remembrance or honor.
- The IOC, despite attempts to compromise, faced a public relations challenge with Heraskevych's resolute stance.
- The article contrasts the current IOC's approach with past instances of strict enforcement against athlete protests.
- The IOC's decision is framed within the broader context of Russia's involvement in international sports.
- Heraskevych's actions successfully brought attention to the war in Ukraine, fulfilling his primary objective.
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