President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has responded to the disqualification of skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych from the 2026 Olympic Games.
“Sport does not mean forgetting, and the Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play along with the aggressor. Unfortunately, the decision of the International Olympic Committee to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych says otherwise. This is definitely not about the principles of Olympism, which are based on fairness and support for peace.
I thank our athlete for his clear position. His helmet with portraits of fallen Ukrainian athletes is about honor and remembrance. It is a reminder to the whole world of what Russian aggression is and what the price of the fight for independence is. And there is no violation of any rules in this,” Zelenskyy wrote.
The President recalled that Russia constantly violates Olympic principles and uses the time of the Olympic Games to wage war: “In 2008 – war against Georgia, in 2014 – the occupation of Crimea, in 2022 – the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. And now, in 2026, despite numerous calls for a ceasefire during the Winter Olympic Games, Russia shows complete disregard and increases missile and drone attacks on our energy infrastructure and our people.”
He added that 660 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed by Russia during the full-scale war. Hundreds of athletes will never again be able to participate in the Olympic Games or any other international competitions. At the same time, 13 Russians are currently in Italy taking part in the Olympics. At the Games they compete under “neutral” flags, while in real life they publicly support Russian aggression against Ukraine and the occupation of our territories. It is they who deserve disqualification.
Ukraine is proud of Vladyslav and his act, Zelenskyy wrote. Because having courage means more than having medals.