MILAN CORTINA, Italy – Vladyslav Heraskevych, the Ukrainian skeleton racer disqualified from the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics for wearing a helmet adorned with images of fallen Ukrainian athletes and coaches, has received a substantial donation of over $200,000 from Rinat Akhmetov, the president of Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk.
The donation, totaling 10 million Ukrainian hryvnia (equivalent to $231,096 as of ), is intended to support Heraskevych’s continued athletic career and advocacy for Ukraine on the international stage. The gesture comes after Heraskevych was barred from competing in the Olympics due to the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) ruling that his “helmet of remembrance” violated rules prohibiting political messaging during competition.
The 27-year-old Heraskevych’s helmet displayed the faces of 24 Ukrainian athletes and coaches who lost their lives as a result of the ongoing war with Russia. Despite being allowed to train with the helmet at the sliding center in Cortina d’Ampezzo, he was informed just prior to his competition that its use would result in disqualification. He subsequently lost an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“Vlad Heraskevych was denied the opportunity to compete for victory at the Olympic Games, yet he returns to Ukraine a true winner,” Akhmetov said in a statement released by Shakhtar Donetsk. “The respect and pride he has earned among Ukrainians through his actions are the highest reward. At the same time, I want him to have enough energy and resources to continue his sporting career, as well as to fight for truth, freedom and the remembrance of those who gave their lives for Ukraine.”
The amount of the donation mirrors the prize money awarded to Ukrainian athletes who win a gold medal at the Olympic Games, underscoring the symbolic importance of the gesture. It represents a significant show of support for Heraskevych, who became a focal point of controversy during the early days of the Winter Olympics.
The IOC had suggested Heraskevych wear a black armband and display the helmet before and after his runs as a compromise, but ultimately maintained its stance that the helmet’s imagery was a breach of the rules regarding political expression at the Games. The decision sparked widespread debate about the balance between athletic competition and the right to express grief and remembrance in the face of conflict.
The case drew the personal attention of IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who met with Heraskevych on , in a last-ditch effort to reach a resolution. However, the meeting failed to produce a compromise that would allow Heraskevych to compete with his helmet.
Heraskevych’s actions also garnered praise from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, highlighting the national significance of his protest. The incident has become a powerful symbol of Ukrainian resilience and determination in the face of ongoing adversity.
The donation from Akhmetov, whose business holdings include the Azovstal steel works in Mariupol – a city heavily impacted by the war – further emphasizes the deep connection between Ukrainian sports and the nation’s struggle. Akhmetov’s support is intended to ensure Heraskevych and his coaching staff have the resources necessary to continue their careers and continue advocating for Ukraine internationally.
While Heraskevych was unable to compete in the Milano Cortina Games, the outpouring of support demonstrates that his message of remembrance and defiance resonated deeply with his countrymen and beyond. The financial assistance provided by Akhmetov will allow him to continue to represent Ukraine and honor the memory of those lost in the conflict.
