Banned from Olympics, Ukrainian athlete speaks at UN on power of sport

Barred from competing at the Winter Olympics for insisting on wearing a tribute helmet honouring victims of Russia’s invasion , Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych has carried his message to a global platform, the United Nations .

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Change the World Model United Nations conference in New York on Thursday, the 25-year-old athlete reflected on the decision that cost him a place at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games . Despite missing the Olympic stage, he said he does not regret his stand.

Heraskevych had planned to compete wearing a specially designed helmet bearing the names of Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed during the war. However, the International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation ruled that the helmet violated Olympic rules on athlete expression , preventing him from competing.

Officials suggested alternatives, including wearing a black armband in remembrance of the victims or displaying the helmet after races. But Heraskevych chose not to compromise on the tribute, a decision that ultimately kept him out of the Olympic competition.

Using the UN platform , the Ukrainian athlete spoke about what he believes is the deeper purpose of sport.

“Sometimes it feels like, in all these hours of training, we forget the overall mission of sports,” he said. “It is not only about medals, but also about the values we represent .”

The panel also featured Shiva Amini , a former Iranian women’s footballer now living in exile after facing threats for playing football with men without the mandatory hijab.

During the session, the names of the Ukrainian athletes and coaches remembered on the ‘memory helmet’ were read aloud, drawing a strong ovation from the audience.

Heraskevych says his sporting journey is far from over. He plans to compete in upcoming Skeleton World Cup races and hopes to continue his career through the 2030 Winter Olympics .

Beyond sport, he and his father run a foundation supporting communities in Ukraine , helping provide generators to areas suffering frequent power outages.