https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/ukraine-vladyslav-heraskevych-disqualified-winter-olympics-helmet-war-rcna258696

The IOC has disqualified a skeleton racer from Ukraine for having pictures of Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia on his helmet of remembrance. They gave him the option to not wear it but he was unwilling to compromise on it.

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych will not compete in the Olympics after refusing a last-minute plea from the IOC to use a helmet other than the one that honors more than 20 of his country's athletes and coaches killed in the war with Russia.

More:… pic.twitter.com/m3nKlTlQXg

— ESPN (@espn) February 12, 2026

Terrible world that we live in now. Silent observation of those who were killed is unacceptable. Talking about how bad the USA is and how LGBTQ is great is acceptable though

Reality is that if they had ignored the guy, he would be getting way less pub than he is now. If the Russians were the ones that lobbied for this, they screwed up.

IOC doing IOC things

Probably would have been fine if they were trans

Rules are rules. Keep politics out of the Olympics or else you get this stupidity

Protest when you're OFF of the field of competition. There's a time and a place to rest on your laurels.

That said, he should've elected to put a picture of Trump with a "NO KINGS" label on his helmet instead, and he'd be carried all around the Olympic Village like a demigod.

Why can't liberals leave sports alone?

The IOC is similar to the UN Human Rights Committee... if you are on the opposing side of their viewpoint, you are generally correct.

Get back to me when this guy shows the same respect to the Russian athletes not being allowed to compete because their war is not allowed..... Meanwhile the US, China, and bunches of other countries wage wars and are not excluded from Olympic competition.

The fact we are not seeing Alexander Ovechkin in what would likely be his last Olympics is WRONG.

Now the same 20 of you can call me 'Ivan'. I don't care.

Can we disqualify the babbling American participants that don't understand immigration laws?

Issue I have is that while people would like to make it political, it is actually a helmet made to honor the Olympic athletes that have lost their lives due to war.

It isn't a helmet with pictures of Ukrainians fighting Russians. It isn't violent. It doesn't have words. It doesn't have slogans.

Bushleague far left bull**** IMHO. Are they worried theyll be offending the Russians who are banned BECAUSE OF THE WAR that killed the Ukrainians on the helmet?!

Pichael Thompson said:

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Can we disqualify the babbling American participants that don't understand immigration laws?

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You mean a competition divided into teams based on boundaries might want to take a stance that the boundaries are indeed meaningful?

The Collective said:

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Pichael Thompson said:

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Can we disqualify the babbling American participants that don't understand immigration laws?

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You mean a competition divided into teams based on boundaries might want to take a stance that the boundaries are indeed meaningful?

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Not if you're an American descended from Chinese people and getting paid by the Chinese government.

TAMUallen said:

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Issue I have is that while people would like to make it political, it is actually a helmet made to honor the Olympic athletes that have lost their lives due to war.

It isn't a helmet with pictures of Ukrainians fighting Russians. It isn't violent. It doesn't have words. It doesn't have slogans.

Bushleague far left bull**** IMHO. Are they worried theyll be offending the Russians who are banned BECAUSE OF THE WAR that killed the Ukrainians on the helmet?!

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Agree.

TheEternalOptimist said:

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Get back to me when this guy shows the same respect to the Russian athletes not being allowed to compete because their war is not allowed..... Meanwhile the US, China, and bunches of other countries wage wars and are not excluded from Olympic competition.

The fact we are not seeing Alexander Ovechkin in what would likely be his last Olympics is WRONG.

Now the same 20 of you can call me 'Ivan'. I don't care.

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Da, comrade! Heil Putin!

It sucks but it's a choice. Purposefully breaking the rules to get attention for your cause and message can have negative consequences. You have to be willing to accept them if you believe your message is just and worthy the cost.

Its nice to know some on here are still waving their 2.99 ukraine flags. Guess y'all gotta get your money's worth out of it. He knew the rules and yet he chose to DF himself.

MouthBQ98 said:

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It sucks but it's a choice. Purposefully breaking the rules to get attention for your cause and message can have negative consequences. You have to be willing to accept them if you believe your message is just and worthy the cost.

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Here are some examples of what would constitute a protest, as opposed to expressing views (non-
exhaustive list):
Displaying any political messaging, including signs or armbands
Gestures of a political nature, like a hand gesture or kneeling
Refusal to follow the Ceremonies protocol

https://www.olympics.com/athlete365/app/uploads/2020/12/Rule-50-Guidelines-Tokyo-2020.pdf

Does that helmet constitute a protest? IOC says yes. I do not. It's a remembrance of his countrymen that can't be there to compete.

That is, a morally bankrupt IOC doesnt want it. Would they allow it every other place besides while competing? Yes.

Another problem is their own rule prohibits arm bands but they will allow Ukrainians to wear black arm bands.

24 athletes killed in war. 1 helmet. 1 ban 🛑

This was the helmet Vladyslav Heraskevych planned to wear before being disqualified by the IOC 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/Bms9n9vSxM

— DW Sports (@dw_sports) February 12, 2026

This helmet is now very political because of the political action that the IOC, who is supposed to keep politics out of the Olympics, has now made it be

Should've gone with a rainbow flag sticker.

Ain't no way they're banning that.

Psycho Bunny said:

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Its nice to know some on here are still waving their 2.99 ukraine flags. Guess y'all gotta get your money's worth out of it. He knew the rules and yet he chose to DF himself.

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I'd take that as a shot at me since I created the thread. I don't like either side through actions in the war, Ukraine or Russia, but do hate Russia more.

IOC Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter prohibits any form of demonstration or political, religious, or racial propaganda in any Olympic sites, venues, or areas, aiming to maintain political neutrality during the Games. While athlete expressions are restricted on the field of play, guidelines allow for expression in interviews, social media, and team meetings, provided they do not violate other rules.

Psycho Bunny said:

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IOC Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter prohibits any form of demonstration or political, religious, or racial propaganda in any Olympic sites, venues, or areas, aiming to maintain political neutrality during the Games. While athlete expressions are restricted on the field of play, guidelines allow for expression in interviews, social media, and team meetings, provided they do not violate other rules.

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I listed their own examples already and posted directly about this

I'll bring up the question, they authorized something to violate their rules, so how are they not making this political? Politics and protests are ok... but only if you do it the IOC way?

Burdizzo said:

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Reality is that if they had ignored the guy, he would be getting way less pub than he is now. If the Russians were the ones that lobbied for this, they screwed up.

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Are the Russians even being allowed to compete? Pretty sure they've been disqualified from the upcoming World Cup over the Ukraine invasion. And the people running FIFA are every bit as corrupt as the IOC.

Independently without Russia colors they may compete

I'm sure all of the woke athletes will now withdraw from the games in solidarity, right?

sam callahan said:

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Probably would have been fine if they were trans

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"They identify as still alive."

Done

I, for one, am OK with this from the IOC.

It is the Olympics, and they are being specific about the field of play. As long as they do it consistently, I have no problem.

I haven't seen a transgender sticker on a helmet or uniform in the filed of play, either. If I did see one of those, but this helmet wasn't allowed, that would be a potential problem.

The Olympics is supposed to be the place where athletes from countries that don't like each other compete fairly and focus 100% on the competition, not political things.

BusterAg said:

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I, for one, am OK with this from the IOC.

It is the Olympics, and they are being specific about the field of play. As long as they do it consistently, I have no problem.

I haven't seen a transgender sticker on a helmet or uniform in the filed of play, either. If I did see one of those, but this helmet wasn't allowed, that would be a potential problem.

The Olympics is supposed to be the place where athletes from countries that don't like each other compete fairly and focus 100% on the competition, not political things.

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If they ban one athlete from making political statements or supporting political issues then why not ban any athlete that does this?

I am no fan of the current Ukrainian regime, but the guy should be allowed to wear his helmet. And Russian athletes should be able to compete as well instead of banned for their political leaders' decision to go to war.

Everything seems inconsistent and arbitrary. Almost as if a globalist cabal controls the IOC.

What the American skier and the queer Plano figure skater said in their statements are far far worse. The Plano figure skater grabs the rainbow flag instead of the US flag at competitions when she wins - but that is allowed. Why?

TheEternalOptimist said:

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BusterAg said:

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I, for one, am OK with this from the IOC.

It is the Olympics, and they are being specific about the field of play. As long as they do it consistently, I have no problem.

I haven't seen a transgender sticker on a helmet or uniform in the filed of play, either. If I did see one of those, but this helmet wasn't allowed, that would be a potential problem.

The Olympics is supposed to be the place where athletes from countries that don't like each other compete fairly and focus 100% on the competition, not political things.

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If they ban one athlete from making political statements or supporting political issues then why not ban any athlete that does this?

I am no fan of the current Ukrainian regime, but the guy should be allowed to wear his helmet. And Russian athletes should be able to compete as well instead of banned for their political leaders' decision to go to war.

Everything seems inconsistent and arbitrary. Almost as if a globalist cabal controls the IOC.

What the American skier and the queer Plano figure skater said in their statements are far far worse. The Plano figure skater grabs the rainbow flag instead of the US flag at competitions when she wins - but that is allowed. Why?

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The IOC makes a very clear distinction between political statements made by athletes "on the field of play" as opposed to before / after the competition. In the present case, the Ukrainian guy wanted to wear the helmet during the actual competition. That is an important distinction. If he won a medal, he probably could have carried the helmet with him to the medal ceremony and not violated the rules.

As for the flag, was this during her actual routine? Because that would be a pretty big divergence from the rules, and that would make the IOC a giant hypocrite, as you are inferring.

Sign behind her says Ohio. Was that under IOC rules?

Has she done it in the Olympics? That picture is not from the Olympics.

EFR said:

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Has she done it in the Olympics? That picture is not from the Olympics.

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No, she grabs an American flag.

Like she did today.

After inning gold.

Ducks4brkfast said:

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EFR said:

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Has she done it in the Olympics? That picture is not from the Olympics.

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No, she grabs an American flag.

Like she did today.

After inning gold.

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Her political activism and statements prior too should disqualify her if memorializing people on helmets is not allowed.

She is a disgrace.

TheEternalOptimist said:

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Ducks4brkfast said:

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EFR said:

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Has she done it in the Olympics? That picture is not from the Olympics.

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No, she grabs an American flag.

Like she did today.

After inning gold.

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Her political activism and statements prior too should disqualify her if memorializing people on helmets is not allowed.

She is a disgrace.

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Hell yeah brother. We should search her tweets going back to high school and ruin her ****ing life.

TheEternalOptimist said:

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Ducks4brkfast said:

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EFR said:

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Has she done it in the Olympics? That picture is not from the Olympics.

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No, she grabs an American flag.

Like she did today.

After inning gold.

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Her political activism and statements prior too should disqualify her if memorializing people on helmets is not allowed.

She is a disgrace.

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Agreed. I am glad they DQedt he Ukrainian guy, but they should have DQed her too.

So, the display of skeletons during a skeleton event is not allowed?