CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — The Ukrainian skeleton racer disqualified from the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics over his remembrance helmet has received his country's Order of Freedom.
Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented Vladyslav Heraskevych with the honor during a meeting in Munich, Germany, on Friday, Feb. 13, hours after the Court of Arbitration for Sport denied the athlete's appeal of his disqualification. CAS said that while it sympathized with Heraskevych's wish to memorialize athletes killed in Russia's unprovoked war on Ukraine, the helmet was a violation of the International Olympic Committee's ban on political statements on the field of play.
"Remembrance is not a violation," Zelenskyy wrote in a social media post that included photos of him meeting with Heraskevych and his father, Mykhailo, who is also his coach.
"Ukraine will always have champions and Olympians. But above all, Ukraine’s greatest asset is Ukrainians – those who cherish the truth and the memory of the athletes killed by Russia, athletes who will never compete again because of the Russian aggression," Zelenskyy said. "Thank you for your stance, your strength, and your courage. Glory to Ukraine!"
Heraskevych's helmet has images of more than 20 athletes and coaches killed since Russia invaded Ukraine almost four years ago. They include figure skater Dmytro Sharpar, who competed with Heraskevych during the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics.
