Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladislav Heraskevych recently made headlines at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics by inscribing the faces of friends who died in the Ukraine war on his helmet. In an interview with Reuters, he expressed that many of those featured were close friends, including young athletes and artists, all victims of the conflict that erupted following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Helene To, a major component of safety equipment in the high-speed sport of skeleton, carried a heavy symbolic weight for him, as he aimed to honor their memories while competing.

However, despite his intentions, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a ban on Heraskevych's helmet, citing a violation of Olympic Charter Rule 50, which prohibits political propaganda in sports. The IOC’s enforcement of these rules has sparked controversy, especially against the backdrop of Russia's aggression and the ongoing war, as many believe that athletes should be allowed to express their views and commemorate victims of such tragedies. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine thanked Heraskevych for reminding the world of the costs of their struggle, underscoring that the truth about the war should not be considered uncomfortable or inappropriate political action.

Heraskevych, who is celebrated as Ukraine's first skeleton athlete and competed at the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympics, previously made headlines in the 2022 Beijing Games for holding a sign that read "No War in Ukraine" as crisis unfolded. His continued advocacy for the plight of his countrymen, particularly through the high-profile platform of the Olympics, raises questions about the intersection of sports, politics, and personal expression at international events, especially as athletes from war-torn countries navigate their identities and legacies on the world stage.