Disqualified Skeleton Star Receives £147k Donation After Olympic Protest
Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was disqualified from the 2026 Winter Olympics for wearing a memorial helmet, has been given a surprise donation of £147,000. The funds, provided by billionaire businessman Rinat Akhmetov, aim to support Heraskevych's sporting career and his advocacy for Ukraine on the international stage.
Olympic Disqualification Over Memorial Helmet
Vladyslav Heraskevych, a 27-year-old skeleton racer, was banned from competing in the Milan Cortina Olympic event last week. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) disqualified him for wearing a 'helmet of memory' that honoured 24 Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed since the Russian invasion. Initially allowed to train with the helmet, Heraskevych was notified the day before his race that he could not wear it in competition, citing rule 50 of the Olympic Charter.
The IOC attempted to persuade him to remove the helmet, offering compromises such as wearing a black armband or displaying the helmet before or after racing. However, Heraskevych insisted he would not race without it, leading to his formal withdrawal from the official start list after an unsuccessful appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Generous Donation from Ukrainian Billionaire
Despite the disqualification, Heraskevych has been rewarded for his principled stand. Rinat Akhmetov, owner of Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk, donated over £147,000 to Heraskevych's charity foundation. This sum equals the amount Ukraine provides for an Olympic gold medal, intended to ensure the athlete and his coaching staff have the resources to continue their sporting career and advocacy efforts.
Akhmetov stated, "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. At the same time, I want him to have enough energy and resources to continue his sporting career, as well as to fight for truth, freedom and the remembrance of those who gave their lives for Ukraine."
Widespread Support and Recognition
Heraskevych also received public backing from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who presented him with the 'Order of Freedom' during a ceremony on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The skeleton racer, who stood a strong chance of a podium finish in the Olympics, has returned to Kyiv and criticised the IOC's decision, sharing a video on Instagram with the caption, "Despite the lack of light, home is the best place. Despite the blackouts, home is still the best place."
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions between athletic expression and Olympic regulations, with Heraskevych's gesture resonating deeply within Ukraine and beyond.
