Remembrance of War Victims, Impressed Patriotism → Rewards of 300 Million Won "What he's done..." [Milan Olympics]

*This content was translated by AI.

The owner of the prestigious team expressed a large reward for his actions for the country. Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) President Linat Ahmetov donated over $200,000 (about 300 million won) to Vladislav Heraskevich, a 27-year-old skeleton national team member who was disqualified while wearing a memorial helmet at the 2026 Milan-Cortinampezzo Winter Olympics.

British media 'The Guardian' reported on the 18th (Korea time) that "President Ahmetov delivered $200,000 to Heraskevich, the same reward that the Ukrainian government pays to the Olympic gold medalist."

The beginning of the incident began when Heraskevich wore a so-called memorial helmet with the faces of 24 fellow athletes who lost their lives on the battlefield following Russia's invasion in 2022. The helmets showed young players who disappeared in the battlefield's saturation, including 14-year-old weightlifting prospect Alina Perehudova, boxer Pablo Ishchenko, and ice hockey player Oleksiy Rohinov.

A day before the start of the race, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) warned Heraskevich that the helmet was a political expression. Even Kirsty Coventry, chairman of the IOC Athletes Commission, visited the stadium and persuaded him by proposing a compromise such as taking off his helmet and kicking a black armband, but Heraskevich did not give up at the end. In the end, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) decided to disqualify and disqualify Heraskevich for violating the Olympic Charter.

Heraskevich, who was likely to enter the medal table, immediately filed an emergency appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but was finally dismissed just hours before the match. As a result, Heraskevich finished the tournament without having played a single official race on the Olympic stage.

But his treatment in his home country of Ukraine was more than a gold medalist. "Heraskevich is a real winner, although he has been deprived of the opportunity to play," Shakhtar chairman Linat Ahmetov said in a club statement. "The respect and pride of the Ukrainian people gained from his actions is the highest reward than any other."

"I hope he will continue his career, remember those who gave their lives for Ukraine, and have enough power to fight for truth and freedom," he said, explaining the background of the donation.

"This helmet is a pure tribute to remember my friends and colleagues," Heraskevich said of the memorial helmet. "Thanks to their sacrifice, we were able to stand here today, but we could not betray them."

Shortly after the CAS ruling, Heraskevich said, "I wanted the truth to win," adding, "But I have no regrets about my actions. This decision is only used for Russian propaganda," he criticized.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly supported Heraskevich, saying, "Remembrance is not a violation of the rules." The Ukrainian government even awarded Heraskevich the Medal of Freedom.

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*This content was translated by AI.