Skeleton slider Vladyslav Heraskevych late on Monday said he had returned to Ukraine after being excluded from the Olympic competitions. In a video posted on X, the 27-year-old appeared to record himself in darkness in central Kiev.

Ukraine’s Vladyslav Heraskevych had his appeal dismissed as images on his helmet breached an Olympic ‘sacred principle’.

Skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych wanted to wear a helmet depicting Ukrainian athletes and coaches killed in the ongoing war against Russia.

One of the biggest stories to come to the forefront during the opening week of the 2026 Winter Olympics surrounded Ukrainian skeleton pilot Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was banned from competing because of his custom helmet.

A Ukrainian athlete has been disqualified from the Winter Olympics over his insistence on wearing a helmet honoring people killed in his country's war with Russia