Skeleton racer Geraskevich announces project to support families of fallen athletes

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Geraskevych, who was disqualified from the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy because of the 'memory helmet' by the International Olympic Committee, announced the launch of an initiative to support the families of the deceased athletes whose portraits were depicted on this helmet.

He announced this in a video on Facebook.

"The whole world is now talking about Ukraine not because of my actions, but because of the athletes who are depicted on my helmet. It is their voice that sounds so loud that it cannot be drowned out," Geraskevich said.

The athlete added that he has already started organizing a fundraising campaign for these families. In the future, Geraskevich said, the goal will be to organize a permanent fund to help the families of all the deceased Ukrainian athletes. Despite the decision of the Court of Arbitration for Sport to disqualify him, Geraskevich said he would continue to fight for justice together with his legal team to "bring this case to justice."

As a reminder, Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Geraskevych was disqualified from the 2026 Olympic Games. This happened because Geraskevich wanted to compete in a "memory helmet" that depicts photos of Ukrainian athletes killed as a result of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But Vladyslav Geraskevich was banned from using this helmet at the 2026 Olympics.

Earlier, the President of Ukraine awarded the athlete the Order of Freedom. The document states that the athlete received a high state award for his dedication to the Ukrainian people, civic courage and patriotism in defending freedom and democratic values.

On the eve of the award ceremony, Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked the athlete for his clear position and emphasized that the sports movement should support peace and not assist the aggressor.

Катерина Глушко