IOC President Kirsty Coventry Faces Backlash Over Ukraine Athlete Helmet Ban

Coventry's emotional meeting with Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych highlights tensions over political expression at the Winter Olympics.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Kirsty Coventry, the newly appointed president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), found herself at the center of controversy after the IOC banned Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing due to his helmet design paying tribute to Ukrainians killed in the war with Russia. Coventry, a former Olympic swimmer from Zimbabwe, met emotionally with Heraskevych, who said he would rather sacrifice his Olympic dream than 'betray' his fallen compatriots. The IOC later announced a 'compromise' allowing Heraskevych to wear a black armband, but he signaled his intent to defy the ruling.

Why it matters

Coventry's handling of the situation with Heraskevych has highlighted the delicate balance the IOC must strike between allowing athletes to express themselves and maintaining the IOC's long-standing rules against political demonstrations at the Olympics. As the first African and first woman to lead the IOC, Coventry's decisions will be closely watched, especially given her background as a Zimbabwean government minister affiliated with a regime accused of human rights abuses.

The details

The IOC ruled that Heraskevych's helmet, which paid tribute to Ukrainians killed in the war with Russia, violated rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter prohibiting 'political, religious or racial propaganda' at the Games. Coventry met emotionally with Heraskevych, saying she 'really wanted to see him race' and that she was speaking to him 'as an athlete' rather than as IOC president. The IOC later offered a compromise allowing Heraskevych to wear a black armband, but he signaled his intent to defy the ruling.

  • The IOC banned Heraskevych from competing on February 12, 2026.
  • On February 14, 2026, the IOC announced a 'compromise' allowing Heraskevych to wear a black armband.

The players

Kirsty Coventry

The current president of the International Olympic Committee, a former Zimbabwean swimmer who is Africa's most decorated Olympian and also serves as Zimbabwe's minister of youth, sports, arts and recreation.

Vladyslav Heraskevych

A 27-year-old Ukrainian skeleton racer who was banned from competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics for refusing to remove a helmet design paying tribute to Ukrainians killed in the war with Russia.

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What they’re saying

“I really wanted to see him race today. It's been an emotional morning.”

— Kirsty Coventry, IOC President (Yahoo Sports)

“I would rather sacrifice my dream of a medal at the Winter Olympics than betray my fallen compatriots killed since Russia's invasion four years ago.”

— Vladyslav Heraskevych (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

The IOC will likely continue to face scrutiny over its handling of political expression by athletes at the 2026 Winter Olympics, especially as it pertains to the war in Ukraine.

The takeaway

Kirsty Coventry's emotional meeting with Vladyslav Heraskevych underscores the difficult position the IOC finds itself in, balancing its long-standing rules against political demonstrations with the desire to allow athletes to express themselves. As the first African and first woman to lead the IOC, Coventry's decisions will be closely watched, especially given her background as a Zimbabwean government minister.