Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych has received a generous donation exceeding $200,000 from Rinat Akhmetov, the owner of football club Shakhtar Donetsk. This financial support comes in the wake of Heraskevych's disqualification from the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics due to his use of a 'helmet of memory' that depicted Ukrainian athletes killed in the war with Russia.
Controversial Disqualification and Failed Appeals
The 27-year-old athlete was barred from competition after the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation jury ruled that the imagery on his helmet violated regulations concerning athlete expression at the Games. The helmet featured the faces of 24 deceased Ukrainian athletes, a poignant tribute to those lost since Russia's invasion in 2022.
Heraskevych initially lost an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport just hours before the final two runs of his event. He had already missed the first two runs because of the disqualification. Despite being permitted to train with the helmet in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the International Olympic Committee issued a warning one day prior to his competition, prohibiting its use during the actual races.
A Gesture of Support and Recognition
In a club statement, Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov expressed his admiration for Heraskevych, stating, "Vlad Heraskevych was denied the opportunity to compete for victory at the Olympic Games, yet he returns to Ukraine a true winner. The respect and pride he has earned among Ukrainians through his actions are the highest reward."
Akhmetov emphasized his desire for Heraskevych to have the resources necessary to continue his sporting career and advocate for truth, freedom, and the remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives for Ukraine. The donation amount is equivalent to the prize money awarded by Ukraine to athletes who secure a gold medal at the Olympic Games.
Olympic Controversy and High-Level Discussions
The case garnered significant attention early in the Olympics, with IOC president Kirsty Coventry meeting Heraskevych at the sliding venue in a last-ditch effort to find a compromise. The IOC proposed alternatives such as wearing a black armband and displaying the helmet before and after the race, but maintained that using it during competition breached rules designed to keep politics off the field of play.
Heraskevych's stance also earned praise from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, highlighting the broader national significance of his actions. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between athlete expression and Olympic regulations, particularly in contexts of international conflict and remembrance.
