"Only 45 minutes left...' Shock disqualified him from the Olympics "It's human duty." [Milan Olympics]

*This content was translated by AI.

Ukrainian skeleton fighter Vladislav Heraskevich, 27, who was sticking to his "memorial helmet" to honor his sportsmates who were killed in Russia's invasion at the 2026 Milan-Cortina D'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, was eventually disqualified. With the disqualification, he will not be able to participate in this Olympics. The Ukrainian government awarded him the Medal of Freedom.

According to the Associated Press and other foreign media, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the Medal of Freedom to the disqualified Heraskevich on the 12th (local time).

"Sports should never be an instrument of oblivion, and the Olympic movement should contribute substantially to stopping the war," Zelensky said in a statement.

He then called the IOC's decision a "moral betrayal," saying, "Heraskevich's courage to protect his colleagues who devoted themselves to his country to the end is more valuable than any other gold medal."

According to the Kyiv Independent, Heraskevich was disqualified from participating after being ruled in violation of regulations by the IOC while wearing a custom helmet.

Earlier during the training session, Heraskevich wore a memorial helmet bearing the faces of 24 Ukrainian sportsmen who died during the war with Russia and conducted a practice run.

He held a press conference there and said, "Thanks to the players who were sacrificed, we were able to compete here as a 'one team'. I will not betray them," he said.

Regarding the helmet he wore, he said, "I wore this helmet yesterday and today in training. I will wear it tomorrow, and on the day of the game. They believe they deserve to be with us in the tournament," he said.

However, based on Article 50 (2) of the Olympic Charter, "No demonstration or political, religious, or racial propaganda is permitted in Olympic stadiums, facilities, or other areas," the IOC said it would not be possible to wear helmets during the Olympic Games. However, he offered a compromise that he would not oppose wearing a black "memorial armband."

But Heraskevich was adamant. "They were not just victims, they were part of our Olympic family," Heraskevich said, refusing to give up his intention to wear helmets not only in training but also in the main event.

Just 45 minutes before the start of the race, IOC President Kirsty Coventry and his meeting took place. Shortly after the interview, Coventry, who stood in front of reporters, said his eyes were red. According to the IOC's official website, Coventry said, "No one, including myself, opposes the message of remembrance and memory he intends to convey. It was a very strong message, he said. "However, regulations are regulations. We have come to the conclusion that no message in the stadium can be allowed to protect all players," he said, explaining why he was disqualified. "I really wanted to see him play," he said.

When the news of Heraskevich's disqualification was reported, Ukraine immediately expressed great support and solidarity. President Zelenskyy encouraged Heraskevich by awarding him the Medal of Freedom, one of the country's highest honors. The Ukrainian government and the private sector have also given full support. Ukraine's sports ministry is reportedly preparing an appeal from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the disqualification process. In addition, private companies promised compensation of 1 million hryuña (about 33 million won) to compensate for the value of his lost medal.

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*This content was translated by AI.