In brief
Vladyslav Heraskevych, a Ukrainian slider, has been banned from competing in the Winter Olympics after he insisted on wearing a helmet depicting Ukrainian athletes killed by Russian aggression. The IOC's decision to disqualify him has ignited debate over the intersection of sports and political expression. Over 20 athletes are depicted on the helmet, including friends of Heraskevych, highlighting the deeply personal impact of the ongoing conflict.
Ukrainian slider Vladislav Heraskevych's disqualification from the Winter Olympics over his helmet depicting fellow athletes killed since Russia's full-scale invasion is the Games' biggest controversy so far. Heraskevych was barred from the men's skeleton in Milan-Cortina earlier this week after he refused to stop wearing it and on Friday his appeal was denied. He has said those featured on his helmet include teenage weightlifter Alina Peregudova, boxer Pavlo Ishchenko, and ice hockey player Oleksiy Loginov, adding that some of them were his friends. More than 20 athletes appear on the helmet in total - here's more on each of them.
