Ukrainian skeleton racer, banned from Olympics, speaks at United Nations

Ukrainian Athlete Finds Global Platform at UN After Olympic Ban

Vladyslav Heraskevych never imagined that being barred from the Olympics would lead to an invitation to address the United Nations. The Ukrainian skeleton athlete spoke Thursday at the opening ceremony of Change the World Model United Nations, sharing his story with thousands of students after being prevented from competing at the Milan Cortina Games.

Heraskevych was banned from Olympic competition for his determination to wear a helmet commemorating Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed during Russia’s invasion of his homeland. The tribute, which featured the names of approximately two dozen victims, was deemed “inconsistent with the Olympic Charter and Guidelines on Athlete Expression” by the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation.

“I think it’s important that we use this stage and talk about important things,” Heraskevych told the audience at the UN. “Sometimes it feels like, in all these hours of training, we really forgot about the overall mission of sports. It is not only about the medals, but it’s also about values that we represent.”

The International Olympic Committee had offered compromises, suggesting he could wear a black armband or display the helmet when not competing, but Heraskevych stood firm on his original intention. During Thursday’s UN panel, the names of the Ukrainian athletes from his “memory helmet” were read aloud, drawing applause from attendees.

Heraskevych shared the stage with Shiva Amini, a former Iranian women’s soccer player who received asylum in Switzerland in 2017 after facing threats from the Iranian government. Amini had been photographed playing soccer with men without wearing the mandatory hijab, leading to her exile. She now resides in New York.

“We can save lives with sport,” Heraskevych emphasized during his presentation. “Sport gave people some hope.”

Despite his Olympic season ending prematurely, Heraskevych’s athletic career continues. He plans to compete in select World Cup races in the upcoming season, including one at the Cortina d’Ampezzo track—the very venue he was prevented from racing on during the Olympics. With characteristic determination, he also intends to continue his career through the 2030 Olympics.

Beyond his sporting pursuits, Heraskevych maintains a frenetic schedule of humanitarian work. He and his father lead a foundation supporting people and organizations in Ukraine, with a primary focus on providing generators to address the widespread power outages plaguing the country. Many regions face blackouts and unreliable electricity due to war-damaged infrastructure.

Heraskevych, who is trained as a physicist, is also leveraging his scientific background to develop solutions for various problems created by the ongoing conflict. During his UN appearance, he wore a vyshyvanka, a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt, reflecting his commitment to showcasing Ukrainian culture globally.

“My goal is to get support and get awareness for Ukraine,” Heraskevych said, “and not only about the war in Ukraine.” He plans to promote Ukrainian cuisine internationally as another way to highlight his country’s cultural heritage.

When asked if he regrets his decision to insist on wearing the commemorative helmet despite knowing it might cost him his Olympic opportunity, Heraskevych remains resolute.

“I believe I had the full right to wear this helmet, and to me, not wearing it would be like a betraying of my principles,” he explained. “The people pictured on the helmet were victims of the war. It’s not right to betray them, too… These people sacrificed their lives. They were not afraid. It’s not right to betray them. So, I don’t feel any regret. I regret that I could not participate, but it was not my fault.”

The athlete’s stance has sparked broader discussions about the intersection of sports, politics, and humanitarian issues on the international stage, especially in the context of ongoing global conflicts. While Olympic officials maintain that keeping political statements out of competition preserves the Games’ neutrality, advocates like Heraskevych argue that some causes transcend politics and speak to fundamental human values.