Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych had his appeal dismissed as images on his helmet breached an Olympic ‘sacred principle’.

Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych has been banned from competing in the Olympic skeleton event over a helmet dispute, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said. Heraskevych wanted to wear a helmet commemorating Ukrainian athletes who died in the war with Russia in the competition which starts later Thursday.

A Ukrainian skeleton racer has been banned from competing at the Winter Olympics after wearing a helmet honoring athletes who have died in the Ukraine War. The International Olympics Committee (IOC) set out its reasoning in a lengthy statement this morning after Vladyslav Heraskevych had questioned whether “this is the price of our dignity” on

The Ukrainian Olympic athlete Vladislav Heraskevych displays the memorial helmet that resulted in his ban.

Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych will not competeafter refusing a last-minute plea from the IOC to use a helmet other than the one that honors more than 20 of his country's athletes and coaches killed in the war with Russia.

The first week in Milan-Cortina was supposed to be about clean edges, fast tracks, and perfect landings, but the story of these Winter Games is already far messier. From the sliding track in Cortina to the jump hills of Predazzo and the cauldron at San Siro,

As Ukrainian athletes prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics, they will seek to boost the morale of their compatriots in Ukraine amid an ongoing war and a brutal winter.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was "proud" of Vladylsav Heraskevych, adding, "Having courage is worth more than any medal."

Stream every moment and every medal of the 2026 Milan Cortina Games on Peacock. Read more NBC News coverage of the Olympics and the athletes competing. U.S. figure skating superstar Ilia Malinin has nearly every accolade in the sport.