The 2026 Winter Olympics slammed the Ukrainian skeleton racing team with a major punishment after Vladyslav Heraskevych walked in with a controversial “helmet of memory.”
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His gear featured a visual representation of more than 20 Ukrainian athletes and coaches who lost their lives during the country’s war with Russia. While thiscost him his participation in the event, several entities stepped forward to comment on the matter. As a latest development, a renowned Ukrainian businessman stepped forward to help the athlete with financial aid to continue dominating in his career.
Heraskevych’s gesture to honor the athletes’ sacrifice and keep their memory alive was praised by many, a reflection of his courage and patriotism. And businessman Rinat Akhmetov supported him by donating more than $200,000.
This amount is the same reward that Ukraine usually gives to Olympic gold medalists. Akhmetov donated the money through his charity foundation to help Heraskevych continue his sports career and advocacy work.
Akhmetov even noted that Heraskevych could not compete at the Olympics but returned home as a true winner.
Vladyslav Heraskevych at the 2026 Olympics wearing a helmet with photographs of Ukrainian athletes who had been killed by the russian war.
“Some of them were my friends,” he said. 💔 pic.twitter.com/L5ncCm5I03
— Kate from Kharkiv (@BohuslavskaKate) February 9, 2026
“Vlad Heraskevych was denied the opportunity to compete for victory at the Olympic Games, yet he returns to Ukraine a true winner,” Akhmetov exclaimed.
“The respect and pride he has earned among Ukrainians through his actions are the highest reward.”
The funds will be given to Heraskevych’s own charity foundation. This will help cover training expenses, coaching, and future competitions. It will also support his efforts to raise awareness about Ukraine.
Akhmetov is well known in Ukraine as the owner of the Shakhtar Donetsk football club and the Azovstal steel plant.
His football club has continued to compete internationally despite being forced to leave its home stadium since the conflict began in eastern Ukraine in 2014. And the athlete personally has no regrets about what he did.
Vladyslav Heraskevych claims to have received “unfair treatment” during his suspension season
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced that Vladyslav Heraskevych was “not allowed to participate at Milano Cortina 2026 after refusing to adhere to the IOC athlete expression guidelines.”
The decision was made by a jury from the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation shortly before his scheduled race.
Heraskevych, who was also Ukraine’s flag bearer and considered a strong medal contender, said the sudden ban left him shocked.
“I feel like I was treated unfairly. I was stripped out of opportunity to compete, and I don’t understand why,” he told NBC News.
The athlete explained that he already reached the venue and prepared his sled when he was informed of the decision. He described the experience as confusing and painful, especially after months of preparation. Despite the consequences, Heraskevych stood by his actions.
“I believe I am right in this case. For me to back down is betraying [the people pictured on the helmet],” he added.
Heraskevych disagreed with the IOC’s interpretation and said he intended to honor those who lost their lives, not to make a political statement. He even questioned why athletes in other winter sports were allowed to display personal messages on their equipment.
“We’re dragging all this attention from the athletes, from other Olympians, to this scandal,” he expressed frustration about the situation.
Now, he has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Heraskevych hopes the ruling will be overturned while admitting that it would be a “miracle” for him to compete in these Games.