Zelenskyy supports Olympian Heraskevych, who was banned by IOC from wearing helmet with photos of killed Ukrainian athletes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed support for Ukrainian national skeletonist Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from wearing a helmet bearing portraits of deceased Ukrainian athletes.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Heraskevych's helmet is a reminder to the world of the cost of Ukraine's struggle and the reality of modern Russia's actions.

“His helmet bears portraits of our athletes who were killed by Russia. Figure skater Dmytro Sharpar, who was killed in combat near Bakhmut; Yevhen Malyshev, a 19-year-old biathlete killed by the occupiers near Kharkiv; and other Ukrainian athletes whose lives were taken by Russia’s war. I thank the flag bearer of our national team at the Winter Olympics, Vladyslav Heraskevych, for reminding the world of the price of our struggle,” Zelenskyy stressed.

Zelenskyy noted that the truth about the killed Ukrainian athletes and their memorialization on Heraskevych's helmet cannot be inconvenient or inappropriate and should not be considered a "political demonstration at a sporting event." This is a reminder to the entire world of what modern Russia is: “And this is what reminds everyone of the global role of sport and the historic mission of the Olympic movement itself – it is all about peace and for the sake of life. Ukraine remains faithful to this. Russia proves the opposite.”

Ukrainian skeletonist Vladyslav Heraskevych reported on Instagram that International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative Toshio Tsurunaga, who is responsible for communications between athletes and NOCs, banned the use of helmets bearing images of killed Ukrainian athletes during official competitions and training sessions. Heraskevych noted that other