Ukrainian trains in helmet honoring fellow athletes killed in war. IOC says it’s banned for race

The IOC offered Heraskevych a chance to compete while wearing a black armband instead, calling it a compromise but the slider does not plan to wear it

The Ukrainian sports outlet Tribuna published a list of 22 victims who are memorialized on the helmet, with the youngest victim being a nine-year-old. Pic: FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych said Tuesday he still wants to compete at the Milan Cortina Games wearing a helmet that commemorates athletes from his country who were killed in the war with Russia, even though the International Olympic Committee said it cannot be used.

The IOC offered Heraskevych a chance to compete while wearing a black armband instead, calling it a compromise. The IOC said the helmet — emblazoned with images of more than 20 athletes and coaches who have been killed since the Russian invasion in 2022 — violates Olympic rule on political statements.