Zelenskyy on disqualification of Olympian Heraskevych: Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play along with aggressor
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the disqualification of Ukrainian skeleton athlete and Olympian Vladyslav Heraskevych does not comply with the principles of Olympism, which are based on justice and peacekeeping. Zelenskyy said this on X, the Ukrainian News agency reports.
"Sport shouldn’t mean amnesia, and the Olympic movement should help stop wars, not play into the hands of aggressors. Unfortunately, the decision of the International Olympic Committee to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych says otherwise. This is certainly not about the principles of Olympism, which are founded on fairness and the support of peace," he said.
Zelenskyy thanked the Ukrainian athlete for his clear position.
"We are proud of Vladyslav and of what he did. Having courage is worth more than any medal," he said.
The President emphasized that it is russia that constantly violates the Olympic principles and uses the time of the Olympics for war, and now, despite numerous calls for a ceasefire during the Winter Olympics, it demonstrates complete disregard by increasing missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian energy and people.
Zelenskyy reminded that 660 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed by russia during the full-scale war, while 13 russians are now in Italy and participating in the Olympics.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified before his first race at the 2026 Olympic Games.
The day before, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) banned Heraskevych from competing in a "memory helmet" created to honor Ukrainian athletes who were killed as a result of russia's armed aggression against Ukraine.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, speaking about the disqualification of Ukrainian skeleton athlete, Olympian Vladyslav Heraskevych, said that with this decision, the International Olympic Committee disqualified its own reputation.