Athlete Vladislav Geraskevich, representing Ukraine in skeleton, received significant financial support of over $200,000 after he was suspended from participating in the 2026 Olympic Games. This funding was provided by businessman Rinat Akhmetov through his charitable foundation and will be used for the further development of Geraskevich's sports career, as well as to support his public organization.
Geraskevich's suspension occurred due to the use of a "memory helmet," which featured the faces of deceased Ukrainian athletes and coaches. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) deemed this a violation of Article 50 of the Olympic Charter, which prohibits any political and symbolic expressions during sporting events.
The amount of support allocated is comparable to the prizes received by Olympic champions, which will allow Vladislav Geraskevich to continue preparing for international competitions and actively engage in public activities, despite the IOC's decision.
